We rsquo d known Kha for more than a year He was part of our small group from church who met weekly to discuss what we rsquo d been learning about God One evening during our regular meeting he made a reference to having competed at the Olympics The mention was so casual that it almost escaped my notice Almost Lo and behold I learned I knew an Olympian who had competed in the bronze medal match I couldn rsquo t fathom that he rsquo d not mentioned it before but for Kha while his athletic achievement was a special [... more]

To help avoid future financial mistakes such as those in and that brought down the world rsquo s economy The Library of Mistakes was founded in Edinburgh Scotland It features a collection of more than two thousand books that can help educate the next generation of economists And it serves as a perfect example of how according to the library rsquo s curators ldquo smart people keep doing stupid things rdquo The curators believe that the only way to build a strong economy is to learn from prior mistakes Paul reminded the Corinthians that one way to avoid yielding to [... more]

Following the Sunday morning worship service my Moscow host took me to lunch at a restaurant outside the Kremlin Upon arrival we noticed a line of newlywed couples in wedding garb approaching the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall The happiness of their wedding day intentionally included remembering the sacrifices others had made to help make such a day possible It was a sobering sight as the couples took pictures by the memorial before laying wedding flowers at its base nbsp nbsp All of us have cause to be thankful for others who in one way or [... more]

Keith was feeling down as he trudged through the produce aisle His hands trembled from the first signs of Parkinson rsquo s disease How long before his quality of life began to slide What would this mean for his wife and children Keith rsquo s gloom was shattered by laughter Over by the potatoes a man pushed a giggling boy in a wheelchair The man leaned over and whispered to his son who couldn rsquo t stop grinning He was noticeably worse off than Keith yet he and his dad were finding joy where they could Writing from prison or [... more]

My trip to Simon rsquo s house was unforgettable Under the cover of a star-lit sky in Nyahururu Kenya we made our way to his modest home for dinner The dirt floor and the lantern light reflected Simon rsquo s limited means What was on the menu I don rsquo t recall What I can rsquo t forget was Simon rsquo s joy that we were his guests His gracious hospitality was Jesus-like mdash selfless life-touching and refreshing In Corinthians ndash Paul mentioned a family mdash the household of Stephanas v mdash that had a reputation for their caregiving They [... more]

Chemotherapy reduced the tumor in my father-in-law rsquo s pancreas until it didn rsquo t As the tumor began to grow again he was left with a life-and-death decision He asked his doctor ldquo Should I take more of this chemo or try something else perhaps a different drug or radiation rdquo nbsp The people of Judah had a similar life-and-death question Weary from war and famine God rsquo s people wondered whether their problem was too much idolatry or not enough They concluded they should offer more sacrifices to a false god and see if she would protect and [... more]

Ludmilla a widow aged eighty-two has declared her home in the Czech Republic ldquo Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven rdquo saying ldquo My home is an extension of Christ rsquo s kingdom rdquo She welcomes strangers and friends who are hurting and in need with loving hospitality sometimes providing food and a place to sleep mdash always with a compassionate and prayerful spirit Relying on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to help her care for her visitors she delights in the ways God answers their prayers Ludmilla serves Jesus through opening her home and heart in contrast to [... more]

ldquo Uncle Arthur do you remember the day you took me to the barbershop and the supermarket I was wearing tan khakis a blue-plaid oxford shirt a navy-blue cardigan brown socks and brown Rockport shoes The date was Thursday October rdquo My nephew Jared rsquo s autism-related challenges are offset by his phenomenal memory that can recall details like days and dates and the clothes he was wearing years after an event took place Because of the way he rsquo s wired Jared possesses the kind of memory that reminds me of the all-knowing loving God mdash the Keeper of [... more]

After hearing a message about correcting injustice a church member approached the pastor weeping asking for forgiveness and confessing that he hadn rsquo t voted in favor of calling the black minister to be pastor of their church because of his own prejudice ldquo I really need you to forgive me I don rsquo t want the junk of prejudice and racism spilling over into my kids rsquo lives I didn rsquo t vote for you and I was wrong rdquo His tears and confession were met with the tears and forgiveness of the minister A week later the entire [... more]

The security guard found and removed a piece of tape that was keeping a door from clicking shut Later when he checked the door he found it had been taped again He called the police who arrived and arrested five burglars Working at the Watergate building in Washington D C the headquarters of a major political party in the US the young guard had just uncovered the biggest political scandal of his lifetime simply by taking his job seriously mdash and doing it well Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem mdash a task he took very seriously Toward the [... more]

The early spring weather was refreshing and my traveling companion my wife couldn rsquo t have been better But the beauty of those moments together could have quickly morphed into tragedy if it weren rsquo t for a red and white warning sign that prompted me I was headed in the wrong direction Because I hadn rsquo t turned wide enough I momentarily saw a ldquo Do Not Enter rdquo sign staring me in the face I quickly adjusted but shudder to think of the harm I could have done to my wife myself and others if I rsquo d [... more]