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... »
Editor's Introduction
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... »
To learn and to grow
Children are natural learners. As long as their basic needs are met, their thirst for new information and experiences is boundless. If they’re happy and have interesting... »
The secret
Living a Christian’s life in today’s complex and intricate world can seem quite difficult. So many things demand our attention on a moment-by-moment basis. Most of them a... »
God’s invitation
In working on this issue of Activated, I came across this great quote: “Relationship with God isn’t about what you do, how you do it, or where you do it—it’s about knowin... »
Principal and interest
In the course of working on this issue, I came across an inspiring story about two great men of God. I’d like to share it with you. Charles Spurgeon, the famous evangelis... »
The most significant decision
An American shoe representative was sent to a remote region of Africa. Before long, he wired the home office: “Selling shoes in this part of the world is pointless! Nobod... »