A Family Loses and Finds What Matters

An episode of This American Life (the popular NPR radio show) focused on a young woman named Sara who was sharing her family's public fall from grace. ...

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 ...

Painting Shows a Prophet's Change of Course

In the Sacred Museum of the Vatican, there is a sixteenth-century sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini entitled "Habakkuk and the Angel." In this ...

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, ...

'Treebeard' Can't Remain Neutral in a Battle from 'The Lord of the Rings'

Remember the character of Treebeard, a leader among the race of Ents, the shepherds of the forest in The Lord of the Rings? The Ents are described as ...