Once Saved, Always Saved
Some people live in eternal insecurity. They can never be sure, no matter what they do or don’t do, that they will go to heaven when they die. It’s enough to make a nervo... »
Editor's Introduction
Jesus, the Risen Savior
Johanna-Ruth Dobschiner was a young Jewish woman who survived the WWII German occupation of the Netherlands by hiding in attics and behind false walls in the homes of the... »
Loving One Another, the Key
Recently, in a popular newspaper column, a well-known visual artist was asked: “Is there any belief that you have been liberated from?” She answered that, although she ha... »
The Search for Meaning
What is life all about? What am I here for? Is there a purpose, a plan for me? And if so, what is it? Questions such as these have stirred the soul and imagination of hum... »
Facing the future with hope
The start of a new year often brings change and new direction, and this year is no exception. Our dear friend, Ronan Keane, who served as the editor of Activated for clos... »
A new hope
On the night Jesus was born, Luke tells us that there were shepherds out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks. An angel appeared to announce the birth of... »
The grateful leper
The Gospel of Luke tells us that as Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem for His final Passover, ten men who had leprosy approached Him and called out from a distance, “... »
Looking for God
Throughout time, people have grappled with the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering in our lives with an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-go... »
Growth and progress
For many people, the pace of life has accelerated into an unrelenting and punishing race. Unnecessary and harmful stress can take a toll on us, but at the same time, acti... »
Two kinds of happiness
Have you ever wondered whether God wants you to be happy? A popular concept found in many Christian books says that “God has good things in store for you. God wants you t... »
Ambassadors
There’s a story, possibly apocryphal, about an American woman whose son was appointed Minister to the Court of Saint James’s, the term for an ambassador to the United Kin... »
Kids and parents: A journey
When browsing a previous issue of Activated, I came across the following quote by Dr. Bob Pedrick: “In the parable that Jesus told about the prodigal son,[[See Luke 15:11... »
Kindness without limits
In the last few years, there have been no shortages of global crises. On the one hand, the illness, conflict, and suffering we see on the news can breed fear and paint a... »