God and Our Circumstances

"Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while he is using our circumstances to change us."

The Rock Climber's Protection

In his book The Unnecessary Pastor, Eugene Peterson writes:

My two sons are both rock climbers, and I have listened to them plan their ascents. They spend ...

Alonzo Mourning Relishes Second Chance

Alonzo Mourning terrorized and dominated many opponents in the National Basketball Association during most of the 1990s. Then Mourning was diagnosed with ...

Abused Woman Discovers God’s Love

In his book Jesus in the Margins, Rick McKinley shares stories of people who have experienced difficulty in life’s journey. One of those stories ...

Mayo Clinic Resulted from a Tornado

Over 100 years ago, a tornado struck the prairies of Minnesota. Many were killed, hundreds were injured, and one small town was almost demolished. In ...

Turtle Rescue Is a Metaphor for Life

Author Barbara Brown Taylor writes:

Several summers ago, I spent three days on a barrier island where loggerhead turtles were laying their eggs. One night ...

Afflicted Woman Bears Witness to God's Grace

Author and pastor Jim Van Yperen tells this story:

Margaret attended a church I served many years ago. Confined to a wheelchair for most of her adult life, ...

Hurricane Jeanne Uncovers Spanish Treasure

An article from the Billingsgate Gazette reported that a wonderful treasure was discovered on the beaches of Florida. Joel Ruth came across 180 near-mint-condition ...

Marathoner Finished Race Despite Assault

Vanderlei Lima went to Athens to do what no other Brazilian had ever done—medal in the Olympic marathon. This marathon was special. The runners ...

Comfort Endangers Our Spiritual Lives

We're too comfortable to be spiritual…. We think we will be able to pursue God better without danger or hardship. And yet it works in just ...