nbsp Rescue workers cooperated to help two men stranded on an island in Micronesia Teamwork was necessary because a widespread health crisis required them to limit their exposure to each other The pilot who first spotted the castaways radioed a nearby Australian Navy ship The ship sent two helicopters which provided food water and medical care Later the US Coast Guard arrived to check on the men and deliver a radio Finally a Micronesian patrol boat taxied them to their destination We can accomplish a lot when we work together to achieve a common goal The Philippian believers pooled their [... more]

The first time we met our neighbor Henry he pulled a well-worn Bible out of a bag he rsquo d been carrying Eyes sparkling he asked if we rsquo d like to discuss Scripture We nodded and he flipped to some highlighted passages that he excitedly explained He showed us a notebook full of his observations With a humble grin he announced he rsquo d also created a computer presentation full of other related information Henry went on to tell us how he rsquo d come from a difficult family situation and then alone and at his worst he accepted [... more]

After a game a college basketball star stayed behind to help workers throw out empty cups and food wrappers When a fan posted a video of him in action more than nbsp eighty thousand people viewed it One person commented ldquo The young man is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life rdquo It would rsquo ve been easier for the basketball player to leave with his teammates and celebrate his role in the team rsquo s victory Instead he volunteered for a selfless job The ultimate spirit of humility is seen in Jesus [... more]

After an unsuccessful surgery Joan rsquo s doctor said she rsquo d need to undergo another operation in five weeks As time passed anxiety built Joan and her husband were senior citizens and their family lived far away They rsquo d need to drive to an unfamiliar city and navigate a complex hospital system and they rsquo d be working with a new specialist Although these circumstances seemed overwhelming God took care of them During the trip their car rsquo s navigation system broke down but they arrived on time because they had a paper map God supplied wisdom At [... more]

I frowned at my cellphone and sighed Worry wrinkled my brow A friend and I had had a serious disagreement over an issue with our children and I knew I needed to call her and apologize I didn rsquo t want to do it because our viewpoints were still in conflict yet I knew I hadn rsquo t been kind or humble the last time we discussed the matter Anticipating the phone call I wondered What if she doesn rsquo t forgive me What if she doesn rsquo t want to continue our friendship Just then lyrics to a song [... more]

When my daughter received a pair of pet crabs as a gift she filled a glass tank with sand so the creatures could climb and dig She supplied water protein and vegetable scraps for their dining pleasure They seemed happy so it was shocking when they disappeared one day We searched everywhere Finally we learned they were likely under the sand and would be there for about two months as they shed their exoskeletons Two months passed and then another month elapsed and I had begun to worry that they rsquo d died The longer we waited the more impatient [... more]

Everyone in high school admired Jack rsquo s easygoing attitude and athletic skill He was happiest in midair above a half-pipe ramp mdash one hand holding his skateboard the other stretched out for balance Jack decided to follow Jesus when he started attending a local church Up to that point he rsquo d endured significant family struggles and had used drugs to medicate his pain For a while after his conversion things seemed to be going well for him But years later he started using drugs again Without the proper intervention and ongoing treatment he eventually died of an overdose [... more]

Ironclad beetles are known for their tough exterior which protects them from predators One special variety however has extraordinary strength under pressure The insect rsquo s hard outer shell stretches rather than cracks where it joins together Its flat back and low profile also help it to resist fractures Scientific tests show that it can survive a compression force of nearly times its body weight God made this bug extra tough and He gave resilience to Jeremiah as well The prophet would face intense pressure when he delivered unwelcome messages to Israel so God promised to make him ldquo an [... more]

Catherine and I were good friends in high school When we weren rsquo t talking on the phone we were passing notes in class to plan our next sleepover Sometimes we rode horses together and partnered on school projects One Sunday afternoon I started to think about Catherine My pastor had spoken that morning about how to have eternal life and I knew my friend didn rsquo t believe the Bible rsquo s teachings the way I did I felt pressed to call her and explain how she could have a relationship with Jesus I hesitated though because I was [... more]

During a summer study program my son read a book about a boy who wanted to climb an Alpine mountain in Switzerland Practicing for this goal occupied most of his time When he finally set off for the summit things didn rsquo t go as planned Partway up the slope a teammate became sick and the boy decided to stay behind to help instead of achieving his goal In the classroom my son rsquo s teacher asked ldquo Was the main character a failure because he didn rsquo t climb the mountain rdquo One student said ldquo Yes because it [... more]

In the city of Mysore India there rsquo s a school made of two refurbished train cars connected end-to-end Local educators teamed up with the South Western Railways Company to buy and remodel the discarded coaches The units were essentially large metal boxes unusable until workers installed stairways fans lights and desks Workers also painted the walls and added colorful murals inside and out Now sixty students attend classes there because of the amazing transformation that took place Something even more amazing takes place when we follow the apostle Paul rsquo s command to ldquo be transformed by the renewing [... more]

I can close my eyes and go back in time to the house where I grew up I remember stargazing with my father We took turns squinting through his telescope trying to focus on glowing dots that shimmered and winked with eye-catching brilliance These pinpricks of light born of heat and fire stood out in sharp contrast to the smooth ink-black sky Do you consider yourself to be a shining star I rsquo m not talking about reaching the heights of human achievement but standing out as a light against a dark background of brokenness and evil The apostle Paul [... more]

After a holiday meal at my house everyone opened party favors filled with candy small toys and confetti But there was something else in the favors mdash a paper crown for each of us We couldn rsquo t resist trying them on and we smiled at each other as we sat around the table For just a moment we were kings and queens even if our kingdom was a dining room littered with the remnants of our dinner This sparked a memory of a Bible promise I don rsquo t often think about In the next life all believers will [... more]