One of the most fascinating aspects of the Old Testament is the way God revealed himself and his plans to his people through the prophets. Continue »

An engaged couple rejoices as they plan their wedding day, but they rejoice even more when that day finally comes. A married couple is full of joy when they learn that they are expecting a baby, but they are so much more joyful when their child is actually born. Someone who learns that he has received an inheritance is thrilled, but he is even happier when the money is actually his. Continue »

The archangel Gabriel appears four times in Scripture: In chapters eight and nine of the Book of Daniel, and twice in the first chapter of Luke's Gospel. It is Gabriel who appears to Elizabeth's husband, Zechariah, and tells him that his prayers for a child have been answered (Luke 1:13). And it is Gabriel who greets Mary and invites her to become the Mother of God (1:26-28). It is this final appearance of Gabriel, at the Annunciation, that we want to reflect on in this article Continue »

It was a rough night. Paul and Silas had been preaching the gospel in Philippi for just a short time when they fell into trouble with some of the Gentiles in the city. A miraculous exorcism led to a scuffle, and the scuffle led to a riot—and the riot led to the two apostles being arrested. They were beaten, chained, and locked up in prison (Acts 16:16-40). They were flogged without trial—a right that was given to every Roman citizen—and put in prison. Injustice pervaded the whole affair. Continue »

I remember well my first day at a maximum-security facility. I had volunteered to help with a summer school program there, and I knew God was waiting for me. Still, I found it unnerving to hear the sound of gates clanging shut behind me and to walk past the tough-looking inmates. Continue »

A friend was struggling. You could see it in his eyes and in his growing estrangement from his family and from church. I prayed for him, sensing he was headed for deep trouble. And since the need was so great and the crisis so near, I entrusted my friend to the care of St. Nicholas of Myra. Continue »

Airports, train stations, and bus terminals tend to be impersonal and even drab places. At this time of year, though, they are settings for joyful meetings that can bring a tear to a bystander's eye. Little children run to greet Grandma and Grandpa with a hug and a kiss. Bouquets appear as couples are reunited. Tears of glad relief greet a beloved family member, home on leave from military service. Continue »

A friend of mine, the mother of eight young children, used to save money by purchasing food in large quantities. One day she set down a fifty-pound bag of flour and it broke open, scattering flour everywhere. Continue »

I sold her adorable white wicker chairs and table, the beauti-ful hand-painted china. I sold the fake little tea party snacks that looked so real I wanted to eat them. I sold every last piece I had stored for years—just so I could buy my husband a surprise Christmas present with-out the price appearing on our credit card bill. Continue »

A young father recently confided that he wasn't looking forward to having his relatives over for Christmas. Extended family gatherings tend to leave him questioning his abilities as a parent, he said. Continue »

Why is that man so sad?" my three-year-old niece, Patty, asked her mother. She had noticed a small, bearded man while walking to their neighborhood convenience store. "He is sad because he doesn't have a home to live in or food to eat," her mother, Alison, answered. Continue »