Animal Farm as a Parable about Blaming Others

George Orwell's famous novel Animal Farm provides a parable about how we often treat each other in Christian community, families, and work settings. ...

Police Captain Who Lived Double Life

In his novel Too Late the Phalarope, the South African writer Alan Paton described a man with a dark sexual secret, whose false self led to public disgrace ...

Addressing the 'Garbage Dump' in Our Heart

Imagine you're out for a hike on a beautiful spring day and you come to a creek. But there's something wrong with this picture. You notice that ...

Warrior Tribe Realizes the Power of Confession

When the Ku Waru warriors of Papua New Guinea were about to launch any risky activity that required close cooperation—like going into battle—they ...

Small Child Teaches a Lesson on Confessing Sin

Every year at our Ash Wednesday service people have an opportunity to write their sins on a piece of paper, fold the paper, and then pin it onto a wooden ...

Compulsive "Sinner" Cures His Guilt but Not His Sin

There's a story about a man who walks into a restaurant and orders a Coke. As soon as he receives it, he throws it in the waiter's face. The waiter ...

The Difference between an Apology and a Confession

In the wake of numerous public confessions by fallen politicians, sports figures, and business executives, in her book The Art of the Public Grovel, Susan ...

When God Answers Our Prayers with One Word—Repent

How does God respond to a Christian who asks for guidance? It all depends. There's a big difference between a Christian who has "irregular, discouraging ...

Max Lucado Shows the Power of Honest Confession

In his book “Grace” Max Lucado writes:

Ever since my high school buddy and I drank ourselves sick with a case of quarts, I have liked beer ...

Tenants Get Evicted After Trash Builds Up

When I was an associate pastor at a church near Portland, Oregon, I was also a part-time manager of the townhouse complex where we lived. Once a month, ...