A devout follower of Jesus Christ, my mom has emailed a “Weekly Inspiration” to her children, friends, and co-workers for over five years. Each of these emails contains an insightful and...

I was approaching my senior years when God let me know in no uncertain terms that my many years of prodigal-son-type bad behavior — excessive drinking and gambling, for instance —...

As a sophomore in college, I found myself floundering, depressed, and unsure of myself. No major event had triggered it; I couldn’t explain why I felt so alone. While I still...

When I returned home from the market with my groceries, my three-year-old son, Alan, spotted the biscuits. He exclaimed loudly, “Papa, biscuits!” Then suddenly he began to cry as he kept...

As a volunteer with new refugees coming into my state, I am heartbroken when I hear so many stories of unscrupulous people taking advantage of them. I wonder how I can...

When I was a young boy in the 1950s, my family would visit my mother’s parents in Ohio. Their house backed up to some busy railroad tracks. The rear entrance to...

In February 2017 the government evacuated my family, neighbors, and friends in the La Barquita community in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. We were all relocated to a new community with better...

A pastor friend of mine was recruiting volunteers to portray biblical characters at her district’s confirmation retreat. Knowing that I enjoyed portraying biblical characters, she asked me to play Bartimaeus, the...

The day was hot, but inside my heart felt cold and fragile. Tears streaked down my face as my twin boys headed off to college. My day-to-day mothering came to a...

Several years ago I joined a devotional challenge where participants choose a word for the year. I chose the word love, initially focusing on examining my love for God. To reinforce...