We Were Meant to Live in Little Platoons

When he left Rivendell, Frodo didn't head out with 1,000 Elves. He had eight companions. Jesus didn't march around backed by hundreds of followers, ...

"Glory": A Worshiping Community

The movie Glory dramatizes the true story of the first black regiment to fight for the North during the Civil War. The 54th Regiment from Massachusetts ...

The Feast That Cost Everything

There's a wonderful story by Isak Dinesen called Babette's Feast, about a strict, dour, fundamentalist community in Denmark. Babette works as ...

"Lord of the Rings" Taught Viggo Mortensen About Community

The lesson is the union with others is more significant than your individual existence. It doesn't deny the importance of your individual existence; ...

Americans Live in Isolation

Novelist Jonathan Franzen writes about our increasing isolation:

In 1890, an American typically lived in a small town… Not only did his every purchase ...

Old Man Becomes Mentor

Robert Lewis writes in an article for Leadership titled "Noble Masculinity”:

Robert Bly said, "If you're not being admired by other ...

How Tuning Forks Produce Tone

Consider a tuning fork. It delivers a true pitch by two tines vibrating together. Muffle either side, even a little, and the note disappears. Neither ...

Friends Carry Doubting Widower

In the book Stories for the Journey, William R. White tells about a European seminary professor named Hans and his wife, Enid. World War II forced them ...

Church Learns Not to Lock Out Their Community

I grieved when our church began chaining our parking lot to keep out the cars of parents who were dropping children off at the adjacent school. The school's ...

Adults Negligent in Affirming Kids

Most American adults already know they have the power to influence children into becoming healthy, responsible, and mature adults. However, according ...