You can tell quite a lot about a person by their tastes – what they enjoy and what they prize. In some societies, you can place a person’s social background and upbringing pretty precisely by those kinds of choices.

One of the hardest things about the Christian life is that we do not see the full outworking of the plan of God – of the promises of God – this side of the grave. We see indications and glimpses.

There’s a great deal wrapped up in a name. A name can point to one’s destiny or sum up one’s character. Parents spend hours selecting the perfect name for their baby. In the past, empires and explorers would carve out new territories—and give them names—to assert their control.

There is something very special about someone visiting your home and sharing a meal with you. During the global pandemic, we have known what it is to miss out on visiting others in their homes – and on having them visit us for special occasions like Thanksgiving or birthdays.

True character often emerges under pressure. True convictions often are shown in the furnace of difficulty. And true faith is often revealed in the kiln of testing. Some of the greatest leaders in history showed their true mettle under pressure.