Where's the Human Connection?

I had a delightful, fifteen-minute telephone conversation last Tuesday. Actually I shouldn't call it a conversation. It was more ... well, I'll ...

The Blessing of Delay

As a rule, prayer is answered and funds come in, but if we are kept waiting, the spiritual blessing that is the outcome is far more precious than exemption ...

Estee Lauder's Example of Waiting

Shortly after starting her perfume business, Estee Lauder realized she had to persuade a cosmetics buyer to place her products in many stores throughout ...

Prison Cell: Picture of Advent

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned by Hitler during World War II, writes to his fiance on one lesson learned from life in prison:

A prison cell, in which ...

Drivers Spite Other Drivers

Have you ever felt that a driver was really slow in pulling out of a parking space for which you were waiting? It turns out your imagination may not be ...

Billy Graham Adjusts to Old Age

In August of 2006, Newsweek magazine interviewed Billy Graham. Amazed by Billy's attitude in spite of deteriorating health, the author of the article ...

Theologian Stanley Grenz on Bypassing Advent

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me." Tony Bennett's voice wove its subtle magic throughout the shopping mall. How appropriate, I thought, ...

A History of Advent and Christmas Traditions

In an article for Christian History magazine, Elesha Coffman offers a fascinating history of Advent and Christmas traditions. While some might be tempted ...

Congregation of One Makes Big Decision

After his ordination in 1969, author and pastor Phillip Johnson received a call to serve one large church and ten smaller churches on the northern coast ...

Vineyards Take Years to Produce a Good Harvest

On a recent visit to two California vineyards, author Margaret Feinberg discovered that vintners must adopt a long-term approach to their work. According ...