A Shepherd’s Heart

That afternoon Tim saw a herd of deer emerge from the woods and graze nearby. One doe seemed especially alert. Wondering if she was the fawn’s mother, Tim looked up a recording of a fawn’s distress cry on his mobile phone and played it loud…

read more

Walk by Faith

The woman walked gingerly up each step to the church’s sanctuary for that night’s prayer service.  As she paused because of her pain or breathlessness, a man passing by said,  “One step at a time. That’s the only way y…

read more

Team Effort in Christ

In 1869 construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. Soon after work commenced, chief engineer Washington Roebling became very ill. His wife, Emily, pitched in to help. She studied his plans, revised specifications, and gave instructions…

read more

Remaining in Jesus

“A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered.” These words, uttered by a character in C. S. Lewis’ book Out of the Silent Planet, depict the joy one has in reminiscing over cherished experiences in life. Though we rightly deli…

read more

Praying to Grow

After Lam Wai Chan moved from his native Singapore to pastor a church in Japan, he panicked. The church had barely twenty members. In a nation known as a “missionary graveyard,” where about one percent of the nation’s people are Chris…

read more

Jesus—Our Substitute

As the US Civil War (1861-1865) dragged on, both sides resorted to conscription (the draft) to fill their ranks. Under the Confederate law, a draftee could dodge service by hiring a man who was exempt from the draft to replace him—in mo…

read more

Sweeter Than Honey

If you want to bring a smile to Jarrett’s face, ask him about his bees. He’s an “apiarist”—a beekeeper. Though our meetings in his backyard are not about bees, it’s not uncommon for “apiculture” lessons t…

read more

One Sure Thing

Trees in cold climates prepare for winter through a process called “hardening.” Water drains from cells so they won’t freeze, expand, and burst the tree. The water that remains between the cells is too pure for ice crystals to attach….

read more

Who’s My Neighbor?

An elderly woman lies unconscious on a hot sidewalk after a terrible fall. Several people stop to help. One calls 911, another gently places a coat under her head. Others put towels under her arms, and still another holds an umbrella over her head unti…

read more

The Father’s Open Arms

Mary Slessor’s compassionate heart led her to open her arms to those in need. The Scottish missionary, born in 1848, served among the people of Okoyong in a distant land. Superstition led people of that region to believe that when twins were born…

read more