Whenever we speak of the end times, our hearts often quicken—partly out of joy, yet also out of fear. To speak of end times is to speak of somewhat uncertain times. "No one knows about that day or hour," Christ says, "not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son." But the uncertainty of calendars and dates isn't what troubles us most. It's the notion of final judgment. So perhaps these words from ...

Early in my ministry, I served a little church in rural Georgia. One Saturday we went to a funeral in a little country church not of my denomination. I grew up in a big downtown church. I had never been to a funeral like this one. The casket was open, and the funeral consisted of a sermon by their preacher.

The preacher pounded on the pulpit and looked over at the casket. He said, "It's too late for ...

Some doors, like the front gate of the White House, are tough to walk through. The White House has one phalanx of security after another, and you simply don't get in unless you are wanted, unless you have clearance, unless you have an appointment.

Some people do get into the White House based on who they are. Some get in based on who they know.

On Sunday July 26, 2009, one of the biggest and most famous ...

Many years ago, our family lived in Memphis. One day our 16-year-old son was reading the local paper and saw that a movie about Elvis Presley was going to be filmed at Graceland. The film company was looking for extras, and our son desperately wanted to volunteer. So I took him to the sign-up area on the specified day. Since he was a minor, I had to sign my name on a form, giving permission for him ...

On August 17, 2008, Dave Freeman, co-author of the book 100 Things to Do Before You Die, died at age 47 from a head injury incurred in a fall at his home. His book inspired the movie The Bucket List and similar imitation lists.

Freeman's own list included things like attending the Academy Awards, running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and taking a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti.

The story drips with ...

Note: This clip is preceded by an incident where a character takes the Lord's name in vain. If you use this clip, please pay special attention to the elapsed time noted at the conclusion of the illustration.

The story of Ghost Town centers around Bertram Pincus—a dentist who detests all people and only enjoys his work because he gets to stuff cotton balls into his clients' mouths and doesn't ...

The 2009 Super Bowl is upon us, and once again we'll see just how much we love this sport. But is it possible we love it a little too much—just as we do with so many other things in life? Consider a recent commercial on TV that describes the love affair a former professional player, Lawrence Taylor, has with football. It could very well describe the undying love millions of Americans have for ...

Syndicated New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a keen observer of world trends, devoted a recent column to the idea that technology has made everyone a potential paparazzo.

Friedman explains that anyone we encounter could have a cell phone with a camera that could record our actions. If we're rude or misbehave, we could end up on the offended party's blog or MySpace website for the whole world ...

After several months of pain in one joint of my right thumb, I went to a hand specialist. I did not remember injuring the thumb, and I didn't want it to get worse. When the doctor came in to examine my hand, a nurse accompanied him. He sat down, greeted me, and got right to work. He looked closely at my hand; said, "Atrophy"; and then said, "No." The nurse wrote on her clipboard. He named something ...

In September of 2004, on the 25th anniversary of their first record release, the rock group U2 became eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although aware of the significance of such an honor, the band members decided not to become caught up in the accolades and accomplishments of the past.

"I suppose if people want to shower you with honors, the only reasonable thing to do is ...