Joni Eareckson Tada believes in the power of praise.  "Victory is found in praise," she says, recalling the example of her hospital roommate, Denise.  Seventeen, blind, and paralyzed, Denise never complained.  "Even though she was dying," Joni writes, "her mouth was full of prayers and thanksgiving."  In contrast, Joni was bitterly angry she was paralyzed and trapped in the unpleasant hospital.  Yet as months went by, the spirit of gratitude ...

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A friend recently showed me a letter he recently received from his friend, Dave Farber, a Fox Valley resident.  At the age of 28 Dave was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him without the use of both legs and one arm.  Despite his limitations he has photographed wildlife from Alaska to Africa.  Read how Jesus changed his life. What an awesome God we have, only the creator of the universe ...

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Our godliness can often be measured by the line between our pride and humility.  Scripture tells us that God has placed a spirit of 'fierce desires" in us.  Pride can ignite these God-given desires into an occasion  for doing wrong.   Humility, on the other hand, makes room for God, who tempers and directs our desires, and guides us to lasting fulfillment. Lent is a season well suited to practicing humility.  Scripture ...

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Have you ever heard the parent of a troublemaking son or daughter dodge responsibility with the protest, "No child of mine...", or disown that same little one in a crisis when the other parent appears--"your child has really done it now..."?  Parents are often quick to expect perfection from their children,  and are shocked when it doesn't appear... " You should know better!", we say. Yet, far from having the right ...

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Focusing on God can be a huge struggle:  each day we are surrounded by things that compete for our affections.  When we say "no" to the distractions of the world and choose not to indulge our overactive appetites for food, media images, or some other thing, we may feel surprisingly weak; even nervous.  Our anxiety level jumps at the thought of being empty of some familiar thing.  But this emptiness pleases ...

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Throughout His ministry, there are periods during which Jesus teaches extensively in parables.  Often the multitudes do not understand the meaning of the parables, but Jesus is careful to explain them to His disciples.  This patter is illustrative of God's ways: to those who are the most receptive to the truth, the Lord grants understanding. However, for those who do not receive the truth, greater understanding is not given. Light received ...

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