One of the wonders of the world is the Taj Mahal, located in the Indian city of Agra. Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, built this spectacular structure in 1629 upon the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who perished during childbirth.
Read MoreHave you ever considered the value of closed doors? Most of us have not. We look at closed doors as an interruption in our plans or as a distraction from our agenda.
Read MoreFor many people, these familiar words are among the most cherished in all of Scripture. Indeed, many have claimed Jeremiah 29:11 as their “life verse.” I’m one of them.
Read MoreI’m sure I’ve read this verse hundreds of times over the years; but I always focused on the first half: “Devote yourselves to prayer…”
Read MoreI can recall hearing on multiple occasions the line, “It won’t matter a hundred years from now.” These words to the wise were an invitation to take the long view when facing disappointment or discouragement or loss. But have you ever considered the fact that you can flip this maxim?
Read MoreOn September 7, 1774, the Constitutional Congress of what would eventually become the United States of America held its first official meeting in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. It was a historic occasion. The first official act?
Read MoreAs I write this, both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments are down to the Final Four. For those teams that made it, the pressure to get there was enormous and the disappointment for those who failed to get there was profound. The reason why is that everyone wants to be a winner.
Read MoreIf creation reveals anything, it’s that God is bigger than big. The theological word is transcendence. He is above and beyond anything and everything in all creation.
Read MoreIn 1940, Professor J. Edwin Orr of Wheaton University led a group of theology students to England, where they visited sites of great revivals. One of their stops was the Epworth rectory.
Read MoreAs the Baby Boomer generation (of which I am a card-carrying member) moves into the autumn of their lives, their assets will slowly but surely be passed on through wills and trusts.
Read MoreMany of us are familiar with the beloved hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” But do you know the story behind it?
Read MoreThe Jewish Talmud, a collection of the ancient writings and oral traditions of the rabbis, describes a remarkable event that took place in the time of the second temple (between 516 BC and 70 AD).
Read MoreIn Samoa, as part of their transition to manhood, boys receive a tattoo signaling their commitment to their people and their chief. As a symbol of national loyalty, it’s a cultural norm that is exceedingly important.
Read MorePablo Casals is considered by many to be the greatest cellist ever to draw a bow. His career spanned the decades. He played for Queen Victoria in 1898 when he was only twenty-two. He played for President Kennedy in 1962 when he was eighty-six.
Read MoreFrank Baum’s classic book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the basis for the Oscar-winning film of 1939, “The Wizard of Oz.” My guess is that, just like me, you have viewed it many times.
Read MoreRecently, I’ve been reading a powerfully motivating book by best-selling author Mark Batterson. It’s titled Chase the Lion, with the subtitle, If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small. Consider these excerpts.
Read MoreRecently I read an insightful comment on the difference between fear and anxiety. “Fear is the emotional response to what threatens me while anxiety is rooted in imagination.”
Read MoreWe read in I Chronicles 9:29 about the role of the Levites in the Temple: “Some of them also were appointed over the vessels and over all the instruments of the sanctuary…” These individuals appointed by God were ordained for the fulfilling of His sacred purposes.
Read MoreMore than a decade ago Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons conducted an experiment at Harvard University that became famous in psychology circles. Their book The Invisible Gorilla popularized it.
Read MoreIn this text, the psalmist makes an amazing observation about the days of our lives. That, in God’s foreknowledge, all of them were recorded in God’s book before any of them came to pass.
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