To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part. ―Aldo Leopold, author and environmentalist The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of […]
Our kids weren’t able to make it home for the holidays; they were working in public service positions. They—and many others— have chosen careers to serve those in need. There may be times when you feel like nobody cares, but the truth is that there will always be someone willing to lay his or her […]
I write Christian books. It’s what I do. Sometimes my research takes me to one of my favorite works: a massive 11-volume set titled, The Story of Civilization by historian Will Durant. Durant’s historical accounts are marked by periodic and profound insights such as: It is in governments to degenerate; for power, as Shelly said, […]
Ladies and gentlemen, the pope has left the building—or should I say the country? Pope Francis made a huge splash in the United States—and not just among Catholics. Many non-religious people—and even some Evangelicals—genuinely like Pope Francis. Why is it that people who largely disagree with the pontiff’s theology find him immensely appealing as a […]
The fallout from the Ashley Madison scandal continues, and it isn’t pretty. On August 18, 2015, hackers exposed the names of more than 30 million people listed on the adultery-oriented website. Six days later, Christie Gibson found her husband John’s lifeless body in their home. The 56-year-old pastor and seminary professor had taken his own […]
“I’ll burn my stillerz gear in my yard and i’ll remove my tattoo from my leg!” If you’re not “from around here,” the statement likely makes no sense. But if you’ve ever spent time in western PA, you’re aware that our little slice of the world has a culture of its own. Ever since the glory days of […]
Chip The sad moment remains etched in my memory. Our son’s beloved dog Chip was wrought by lymphoma, and it fell upon me to have him put down. As I held the little guy’s paw, the vet injected a potassium solution, and Chip closed his faithful brown eyes forever. A hunter for most of my […]
In case you’ve been vacationing on Mars and haven’t heard, Cecil the beloved lion is dead, lured from a Zimbabwe game preserve and shot by an arrow from the bow of Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer. The Internet has exploded with outrage. Movie stars have voiced their condemnation. Protesters have gathered outside of Palmer’s office. And […]
Sometimes, it feels as though living right is the wrong thing to do. Our world is full of self-absorbed people who cheat and oppress others with no apparent consequences. Meanwhile, the lives of virtuous people seem to overflow with hardship. God, it appears, looks the other way. If the prosperity of selfish people bothers you, […]
I took my first cruise last fall, and I must say that it was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever had. My wife Debi and I had no agenda and our most demanding decisions revolved around which dinner menu items to choose. Speaking of the cruise food, it was amazing. Not only did the wait […]
