When the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik satellite in 1957, it shocked the United States and sparked the onset of the race to see which of the two Cold War superpowers could achieve dominance in space exploration. The end of the 1950s saw the U.S.S.R. leading the way with the launch of the first manned spacecraft to successfully orbit the earth. But the U.S. was also working hard through its new federal agency dedicated to space exploration—the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the ambitious goal of landing a man on…
Give More Presence, Not Presents
It’s said that to a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. What means the most—and often the greatest gift we can give—is not another toy but simply our time and attention. How a child’s eyes light up when we sit close and read a book together—or take the time to watch and listen while they show us yet another thing! Children need love, and crave attention. In Scripture God calls us His “little children,” not His “little adults.” He made us to need each other—to be interdependent rather than independent. Yet for many people today, time is a rare and precious…
Thanksgiving Holiday: Sojourners and Pilgrims
In America, each year in November we celebrate our national holiday called Thanksgiving. Every school child learns the story of the courageous Pilgrims who set sail on the Mayflower from Europe, braving the elements for two months before arriving in Plymouth, Massachusetts in November 1620. They came seeking a New World, religious freedom, and a better life. A year later, the pilgrims celebrated God’s gracious gifts with prayer, thanksgiving, and a special feast. The tradition continued, and in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. The date was set as the fourth Thursday in November. The timing of…
What’s Your Assignment?
There is no greater joy than when you know God has given you an assignment and you carry it out. Today, I am basking in the peaceful satisfaction of completing such a task. My heart overflows with thanks to our heavenly Father—for life, His love, the blessing of family, friends, and fellowship, and for His faithfulness through every season. I’m thankful for the desire God put on my heart as a teenager to be a writer. As the years unfolded, it gradually came to fruition as I began writing for a local newspaper, then magazines, and websites—leading to the day…
Book Review: Eternity Now: The New Testament Series
As a Blogger Grid member of Bible Gateway (#BibleGatewayPartner), I was recently given the opportunity to receive the new NET Eternity Now New Testament Series Box Set in exchange for an honest review. The set presents all 27 New Testament books categorized in 5 slimline easy-read paperback books: e.g., the books written by Luke in one volume, Paul’s epistles in another, books by John in another, etc. Put together, they tell the story of how Jesus Christ changed the world, and what it means for us today. The books offer a new way to read the New Testament as a…
