When I was a small boy, my dad would often ask me to rake leaves with him in the fall. At the time, I was absolutely convinced that his reason for asking revolved around my leaf-raking prowess. Truthfully, I did ...more
I always like to know the reason for things. When I was a kid, I hated busy work. Even as an adult, when I’m told that I should do something, I find that a compelling reason helps me to stay ...more
One of my kids favorite activities is to ride in the car with me. It really doesn’t matter where we are going. A trip to Home Depot is just as good to them as a trip to the mall. The ...more
I recently attended a funeral with a friend. There is something about funerals that make you slow down and think a little more carefully about life. They remind us of our own fleeting mortality and ultimate end. They make us ...more
In the fall of 1839, a handful of Christians gathered at the old red brick Presbyterian church in downtown Chicago to pray about the issue of slavery. It was a largely forgettable evening by almost anyone’s standards. Yet somehow, the ...more
Almost 5 years ago, a group of Chinese orphanage workers laid a beautiful little girl, fast asleep in yellow pajamas, into my wife’s arms. As I looked on, I was overwhelmed with both love for my new daughter and an ...more
There have been times in my life where I have gazed up at the night sky and pondered the vastness of the universe or looked at a globe and been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people living in every ...more
I received one of my most helpful pieces of advice at a gathering of Christian leaders some years ago. Joe Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute, made the comment that “time and truth go hand in hand.” The idea ...more
Awhile back, I was reflecting on all of the decisions I have made over the course of my life. Big ones, small ones, good ones and honestly, some not-so-good ones. At some point, I realized that our capacity to make ...more
One of the most well-known symbols displayed in traffic jams all across America is the ichthus, or Christian fish symbol. Next to the cross, it is the most readily identifiable Christian icon in the world, dating back to the earliest ...more