July 10, 1913. Do you know the significance of that date? On that day was recorded the highest temperature ever observed not just in the continental United States, but in the world. On that day in Death Valley, California, the temperature reached 134 degrees. More than likely you will not have to endure summer temperatures…

Your perfect golf outing is ruined when you receive a $200 ticket for going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. What most closely describes your emotions? Disgust at yourself for being careless, getting caught, and wasting money. Abject sorrow for breaking the law, mixed with a desire to never speed again. I’m pretty sure…

Growing up in Australia, Christmas was very different to what I experience now. For one thing it was always very hot, because December 25th in the Southern Hemisphere is in the middle of summer.  Also, because of the summer sunlight hours few people would bother with Christmas lights. How different it was when I came…

“God, if you are up there, please show yourself to me.” Have you ever said that to God? Wouldn’t it be great if God just came down and showed himself to us? God does show himself. In the first line of the Bible, God reveals himself to us.  He tells us that he made all…

You don’t want to be a sheep under the care of a bad shepherd. A bad shepherd lazes while his sheep starve. A bad shepherd runs away when the hungry wolf attacks the sheep. A bad shepherd sleeps while his sheep wander off and become lost or caught in a thicket. You don’t want to…

Is there such a thing as blessed suffering? On the surface of things, we often fail to see the blessings that come from suffering. When we have a cavity filled at the dentist office, we may at first only focus on the discomfort of the procedure and the temporary numbness of our lower lip. Yet…

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2 If you see someone walking around with a smudged cross on their forehead, you…

Over 111 million people!  That is the estimate of how many people will be watching Super Bowl XLVI.  100 million!  That is the estimate for the number of Bibles that will be sold around the world this year.  Which is more important:  most watched, or most read? Advertisers want you to think it is the…

“I achieved every goal in 2011 and then some! I lost more weight and exercised more than I needed to, I am proud of my spiritually strong life and my finances are healthy. I don’t need to set any goals for 2012!” Did you hear someone make such a statement recently? I didn’t. I didn’t…