While serving in Iraq, Courtney Birdsey experienced the protective hand of God, forever changing her. She says:

On one of [our] missions, my unit made a return trip to Samarra, north of Baghdad, to gather data. As we were leaving the town, the Humvee I was riding in approached a tank from behind. A soldier riding on the tank gave us an urgent "turn around" signal. We didn't hesitate to follow orders. ...

In an article for Christian History magazine, Elesha Coffman offers a fascinating history of Advent and Christmas traditions. While some might be tempted to scoff at certain traditions, a closer look reveals ample evidence of a longing all of humanity shares for the Christ who has come:

The first church official to propose special activities for the pre-Christmas period was Perpetuus, bishop of Tours, ...

The first time the town of Tubingen, Germany, expelled all of its Jewish residents was in 1477. It soon became a place where anti-Jewish doctrines thrived, especially during World War II. Today, however, the Jerusalem Post reports that not only has a tiny Jewish community returned to the town, but there also exists the Tubingen Offensive Stadtmission Church (TOS). The church has grown to about 250 ...

While it is often acknowledged that only God can truly forget as he forgives, one California woman has taken this axiom to a new level: She can remember key details of her life and the world around her for every day of the past 30 years. And while most people would say they would love to improve their memory, this woman admits that a sharp memory has its down sides.

Recently profiled in the journal ...

Every December since 1992, Morrill Worcester, owner of one of the world's largest holiday wreath companies, has taken time in the midst of his busiest season to haul a truckload of wreaths to the Arlington National Cemetery. Morrill and his band of volunteers spend a day laying wreaths on the graves of over 5,000 soldiers as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

Worcester, 56, started the program ...

Pat Bailey shares the following thoughts about the contribution of each part of the meal in a traditional Thanksgiving feast:

The wheat gave its best as it was beaten to separate the heart of the wheat from the plant. That heart was given to the wheel of the mill and ground into flour. The flour was mixed and beaten down time and time again as it was prepared for the oven. Then the oven, with great ...

Stuart Briscoe told the following story in his book, Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People:

One of my young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man's military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through ...

On Saturday, February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry 16 minutes before its scheduled landing in Florida after a 16-day scientific mission in outer space. Two members of Columbia's seven person crew, Rick Husband and Michael Anderson, were outspoken Christians.

According to The Presidential Prayerteam Website, Colonel Rick D. Husband spoke openly of the many joyful experiences ...

Three days after terrorists crashed hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President George W. Bush designated Friday, September 14, 2001, as a national day of prayer and remembrance.

In Washington D. C., the National Cathedral was filled to capacity with invited guests including political leaders, military brass, and four former presidents and their wives. At President Bush's ...

Nearly 16 weeks into a long-prayed-for second pregnancy, my water broke. Our doctor tried to be optimistic, but the prognosis wasn't good. Sixteen weeks of gestation is a long way from viability, and only a miracle could seal the bag of water back together.

The doctor sent me home for bed rest and instructed me to go to the emergency room when the miscarriage began. I stayed in bed for two weeks praying ...