It was the week before Christmas, and I was pouting. “Bah, humbug, God; I’m estranged from my family so I’ll sit here alone again and make my own dinner. At least...

When I was a child, I would stare up into the sky on Christmas night and wonder if the brightest star I could find was the same one that led the...

Having grown up in an area known for its abundance of stone, I am fascinated by stonework. Traveling throughout the region, one can see houses, churches, walls, and fences made of...

The Bible study I was leading didn’t go well. People were distracted, and their comments were scattered. I couldn’t seem to bring their attention back to the study. As I drove...

At Christmas, a time full of great expectations of joy, death is an unwelcome visitor. Unfortunately, we have no guarantee that death will bypass the holiday season and choose some other,...

Most mornings I walk our dog, Emma, along a country road near our home. Usually, we see some wildlife on our walks — deer, squirrels, and rabbits. These sightings have become...

I love Bible stories like Gideon’s, where persons suddenly find themselves facing an enormous task that they don’t feel qualified for. Gideon’s initial response isn’t exactly faith-filled, but the angel of...

During the four Sundays before Christmas, my church lights one candle each week on an Advent wreath to anticipate the birth of Jesus. Each candle represents an aspect of Christ’s light...

On Christmas Eve 1986, I excitedly anticipated taking my young family to the 11 p.m. service at our church. The past few months had been stressful for my wife and me....

In the third month of my pregnancy, I was diagnosed with dengue, a urinary tract infection, and typhoid fever. My doctor referred me to the hospital for better care. As I...