He was the last one picked at recess. The two captains argued back and forth about whose team the new kid would be on until one reluctantly gave in and said, “Fine, I guess we are stuck with the newbie.” Timmy left school that day feeling like he did not have a friend in the world. Third graders can be cruel at times.

She had worked long hours over the past few weeks getting things ready for the quarterly staff meeting. The room was full of corporate executives and senior managers from out of state. At the end of her …

In his classic work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells of Christian’s struggle as he attempts to climb up “The Hill Difficulty.” Facing the arduous task of ascension, the weary traveler drinks from the nearby spring to refresh his soul. He resolutely declares:

“The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up heart, let’s neither faint nor fear;”

For Christian (and any Christian for that matter), the goal of prayer is to go higher with God. It is to ascend the mountain and …

What an incredible experience it must have been as the children of Israel crossed the Rea Sea on dry ground and watched the God of Abraham collapse the walls of water on their enemies. The bondage in Egypt had been severe, their taskmasters cruel, but God sent deliverance that day through the blood of the paschal lamb. One may think that such a supernatural exodus from bondage would be so impressed in their minds that they would never doubt the power of God again; however, it did not take long until the people found themselves in the wilderness murmuring about …

Do you consider yourself to be a goal-oriented, success-driven individual who strives to do all that you can with a spirit of excellence? Do you work tirelessly until the job is done? Do you constantly look for ways to improve your life and the lives of those around you? Such people are usually entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities because they have proven themselves to be reliable, efficient, and highly motivated “go-getters.” Their virtuous efforts are not only commendable, but they are also needed for the progress and advancement of society, businesses, homes, and ministries.

Overachievers, though typically good …

As I write this, I am doing all I can to overcome covid. What started out as a scratchy sore throat a few weeks ago has ended up as a full-on, all hands-on deck case of the Delta Variant. Over the past year, I have tried to sympathize with friends, family, and church members as they described their symptoms to me, but their descriptions finally made sense as the virus attacked my own senses. From loss of taste and smell to a compromised immune system, I have discovered this stuff to be a heavy hitter (especially in the lungs).

Like …