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Jesus says, “Don’t give up! Pray for God’s help” (see Luke 18:1). Some readers will be suspicious of this because they’ve heard “Just read the Bible and pray, and that will solve everything.” No, it won’t solve everything, but nothing will be solved without it. Jesus knew what He was talking about.

Our perceptions—much more than our circumstances—are the building blocks with which we construct our lives. No matter what the circumstances and stress, our view of life determines our level of joy and contentment.

The presence of God is the essence of Heaven. John Milton put it, “Thy presence makes our Paradise, and where Thou art is Heaven.” Heaven will be a physical extension of God’s goodness.

The more famous someone becomes, the harder it is to cultivate and retain virtue. The bigger your image, the more it tends to eclipse your character. In today’s social media world, instead of building character, many people just build image.

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the death of my childhood best friend, Jerry. In God’s providence, earlier this summer I ran across my 2007 blog about him. I’m reposting it in honor of my friend, and in the hope that readers will find this tribute to friendship to be encouraging. 

This Wednesday, October 8, is the 44th anniversary of the death of my precious mother, Lucille Vivian Tovrea Alcorn. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t think of her and thank God for her.

Your relationship with Jesus will only grow as you spend time with Him—not only as you talk to God, but also as you listen to Him.

“Find yourself” is common advice. But in the end, people who follow it find only ugliness, brokenness, and unhappiness. They pursue dreams, and find nightmares.

I’m reposting this blog in honor of the 10-year anniversary of my friend John’s homegoing. I love (not just loved, he is more alive than ever) this brother very much. Some of you knew John; others knew of him. His life and story are worth knowing.

Anne Farrens writes, “Abortion doesn't undo the trauma of rape—it brings more sorrow and suffering. Grace can come from brokenness; my life is the ultimate example.”

Years ago in the Midwest, a woman was looking for a way to reach out. She made contact with a death-row prison ministry, and began writing to a man named Durlyn who’d been convicted of horrible crimes. 

As Paul tells us, though we naturally grieve at losing Christian loved ones, we are not to “grieve like people who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our parting is not the end of our relationship, only an interruption. We have not “lost” them, because we know where they are.

I read comments from someone who thought they had the gift of discernment and lamented that no one talks much about this spiritual gift. I agree that it’s often avoided. This might be in part because it is a sensitive subject to address with those who feel they have this gift.

Sometimes we make the foolish assumption that our heavenly Father has no right to insist that we trust Him unless He makes His infinite wisdom completely understandable to us. But if God offered us constant explanations for the circumstances we face, our lives would not be free or normal, and would not allow for faith or trust.