I shut my eyes as the amusement park ride creeped higher—trying to ignore all the creaking coming from this wildly popular ride I was on. When it stopped for a moment, I made the mistake of peeking and was horrified to see the plunge we were abou…

Emily Kenward walked down Lavender Street in Brighton, England. Having recently become a believer in Jesus, she now saw the street differently. She noticed how many homes had their curtains drawn in the daytime, and how few older people were about, des…

In 2024, teenager Keegan happily reeled in a two-foot barramundi. But his happiness became elation when his little sister pointed out a tag on the fish. His catch was worth one million dollars as part of an Australian fishing competition. The annual ev…

On my desk is a memo board of reminders. Pinned on it is a list, “10 Habits for Great Health” that I cut out of a nutrition magazine years ago. Recently, I was stunned that even though I see this list every day, I could only remember four i…

“It’s not my fault!” So says Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back when his ship is attacked and there seems to be no escape, only because a repair was not made. When he says it, you wonder if he bears at least some responsibility for h…

At one hundred dollars, Loretta’s utility bill was much higher than usual. “But the Lord will provide,” she told her son. That same day she received a text from her youngest brother. “Loretta, you’re always encouraging me,…

My dad was a hard worker on our farm and in the factory but not necessarily a handyman. Sometimes when a tractor or furnace or plumbing failed, a neighbor or friend would offer to fix it. Dad offered to pay even though he knew he couldn’t afford …

What’s so good about Good Friday? Why isn’t the day called Bad or Sad Friday? After all, it’s meant to be a day of sorrowful reflection, not a day of celebration. Sometimes, this day takes other names, such as Holy Friday. In Germany,…

When I broke my upper arm, my friend Rex surprised me by shipping a care box of frozen soups with a beautiful silver ladle. I was deeply touched and kept the ladle long after consuming the soup. My arm has healed and dear Rex has since passed away but …

At a job interview, Carol was asked repeatedly, “Why did you leave your previous job?” The interviewer had an inkling of the conflict she’d had with her former employer and wanted to know what had happened.
While acknowledging &ldquo…