In his classic book Fullness of Joy, Eric B. Hare, a missionary to Burma, describes how he and hundreds of others were evacuated to India by the British government just hours before the Japanese occupation. Rich and poor, literate and illiterate, coolies, missionaries, aristocrats, and government officials alike—each was allowed only 60 pounds of luggage. Eventually […]
I sit at my desk and watch the trees outside my window shake off their winter stupor. As leaves unfurl their golden greens, the dull, bare browns give way to the delicate hues of spring. My favorite season is here! But this spring has been different. Nature’s best efforts to inspire a spirit of youth […]
When I first met Jesus as a teenager, my Christian experience was thrilling! I loved reading my Bible. But unfortunately, in time I began listening more to others’ opinions on the Bible instead of deepening my faith through personal Bible study. Listening to human opinions only led me to confusion. Finally, I reached the point […]
Browse through a Bible, and you’ll find riveting stories, detailed genealogies, instructions for rituals, historical records, passionate poems, profound proverbs, apocalyptic visions, and more. The Bible is not just one book, but a collection of 66 books. It was composed over 1,500 years by multiple authors writing on three continents. Yet all these books are […]
How would you like a vacation on a palm-fringed tropical island right now? Would it remove your stress? Temporarily, no doubt, but the stress would be back. More practical for most of us would be an evening spent in a relaxed setting, doing something we enjoy. But for how long would that relieve our stress? […]
When I first began reading the Bible, I was moved by the beauty of the Psalms. I had studied French and English literature at the University of Bucharest and was pleasantly surprised to find such rich stimulation in the Scriptures. Furthermore, I found that they provided for all my spiritual needs. Throughout them ran a […]
Have you ever met a religious grouch? Someone obsessed with the do’s and don’ts of his or her religion, yet wholly lacking in courtesy? Some people who pride themselves on being very religious are rude and discourteous. Others who are not religious pride themselves on being polite and honest. Neither is better than the other. […]
It’s no secret that planet Earth is a mess these days. Major news networks almost constantly carry shocking reports of deadly natural disasters, terrorist atrocities, violent crimes, political corruption, and economic woes. We hear of spiraling heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, even among young children. Such boiler-point pressures are taking their toll on everyone seeking […]
What should those who claim to follow Christ—Christians—be doing before Christ returns? Strangely, to understand our position today, we must look back to the time before the world was created. It’s important to consider “the big picture” in order to effectively fill the role God has for us in final events.
Rewind
Before the creation […]
In an era obsessed with sexuality, what is the point of purity? Why not just go with the flow? Why swim upstream? It’s because purity is worth it. Purity means we are in control of ourselves instead of being driven by our feelings. It implies we can choose a higher moral response instead of being […]