In my early grade-school years, Barbies and board games were rainy-day entertainment staples. But I wasn’t fond of Monopoly….
Faithfulness
Daniel in the Lions’ Den: A tale of conspiracy and conviction
Daniel in the lions’ den is one of the Bible’s best known stories. It speaks to the risks and rewards of standing for one’s convictions. But if we leave it at that, we overlook an important message for today….
Daniel and Belshazzar: Radically different responses to cancel culture
As a result of the Israel-Hamas war, all public Christmas celebrations have been canceled in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Jordan to mourn the recent suffering. However, religious services are still allowed….
Lord, Make Me a Pillar when the Earth Shakes
Have you ever felt like everybody is doing OK except you?…
What Happened to Queen Esther?
What would you do if you had only nine years to make a difference for God and the deck was stacked against you?…
What to Do When Stuck in the Now of No
Easter weekend, I was hit again with family loss. Four days later, in the space of five minutes, two more big “no’s” rocked me….
They Came So Close
If you were outdoors at the right time this past week (June 17–27), you could see five planets align in sky about an hour before dawn. In ancient times, such an alignment portended a massive upheaval, like a change of government or religion. This planetary performance peaked on June 24, with the moon additionally pairing with Uranus (visible halfway between Venus and Mars). Draw whatever conclusion you want regarding the significance of that date in light of current events….
When Life Reaches a Full Stop
This week I should have been out of state at an intensive writing academy. I gave that up to fulfill a work contract, full of insane deadlines. Then, a week ago, I had unexpected surgery. Despite being worried about it its urgency, having a few days off with a legitimate reason to not do any work sounded almost like a vacation. I didn’t realize the extent to which work had depleted me since August….
How “Fatima” can Guide Us through Today’s Tumult
Last weekend I watched the 2020 movie Fatima, which chronicles three Portugese children’s experiences in seeing and talking with the Virgin Mary. The real-life events of 1917 are told through flashbacks as a journalist interviews an aged Sister Lucia, the only one of the three children to live to adulthood….
