Editor’s Introduction
A life well lived
The Bible has a lot to say on the topic of what our purpose in life should be. King Solomon, described in the Bible as the wisest man of his time, [[See 1 Kings 4:30.]] d … »
The best things
You may have seen the quote by American syndicated humorist Art Buchwald, [[1925–2007]] “The best things in life aren’t things.” It has a way of popping up in my mind whe … »
The cork and the steel bar
The Bible tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” [[James 5:16 NIV]] But most of us have probably wondered if our prayers really make … »
Nourish and flourish
It’s human nature to form quick opinions based on the things we see and hear, without taking the time to dig deeper. “Do you look at things according to the outward appea … »
Compelled and propelled
I’m sure most of us would look at Mother Teresa and people like her and think we could never be like that; we could never be so saintly or make such a difference in the l … »
Highs and lows
The Christian life is made up of mountains and valleys. There are times when we’re on exhilarating peaks of joy and happiness. And then there are times when we feel demor … »
The prison
There’s a story of a visit Pope Leo XII made to the jail of the Papal States in 1825, which goes like this: The pope insisted on questioning each of the prisoners as to h … »
The secret
Decisions come in all shapes and sizes. Every day we face decisions about what to eat, whether to exercise, how to use our time, etc. Over the years, these decisions beco … »
God’s party
I can’t remember ever coming across this verse until the other day. At least, it never stood out to me the way it did this time. That could be because the book of the pro … »
Something new
Goodbye 2017 and hello 2018! Another year is behind us, and a brand-new year, brimming with possibilities, lies ahead. If last year was a difficult one, we may be glad to … »
The Prince of Peace
Sometimes it feels like the world is getting darker and colder all the time. When the sun sets, we look for some ray of hope. That hope is here. Two thousand years ago, o … »
Four loves
In modern English, the word “love” conveys a range of emotions, but the classical Greeks were more precise. They had four words that have all been translated as “love” in … »
Planting trees
“The Man Who Planted Trees,” by Jean Giono, is the allegorical tale of Elzéard Bouffier, a humble shepherd who single-handedly transformed a barren region of southern Fra … »