What is the meaning of life? The book of Ecclesiastes can be confusing and even lead you down a hopeless path. Despite his extensive searching, the Critic cannot find what he is looking for! Yet, the author of the book offers us a source of secure hope.

In an age where all our questions can be answered by algorithms and artificial intelligence, what can we learn from the ancient wisdom found in scripture? Today we look at Lady Wisdom, the teacher in the Hebrew book of Proverbs.

If the Kingdom of God arrived on earth in the person and ministry of Jesus, why is the world so full of evil, corruption, and pain? Jesus answers this question with a story about a farmer and his struggle with weeds. The world is full of good, but an enemy is at work sowing corruption.

In this parable, we get a picture of God as a farmer generously scattering seed. We are also invited to examine the condition of our hearts and our ability to produce a harvest. The parable of the seeds and the soil is unique because Jesus explained the details of the parable for the benefit of his disciples!

This parable is one of the best known and most loved stories Jesus ever told. It explores the grace of God in vivid detail against the backdrop of the human tendency to run from God and resist His mercy.

Jesus compared The Kingdom of God like a great banquet. All have been invited, but not all will accept the invitation to come to the table. Jesus used humor and surprise to invite His hearers to question their excuses and examine their hearts.

The parable of the workers and their wages invites us to question our sense of entitlement, confront our envious hearts, and accept the grace of God with gratitude.

Jesus was a master storyteller. He used these stories, Parables, to communicate spiritual truths. They were relatable, sometimes funny, but usually subverted the expectation of the listener. Today, we are focusing on the Parable of the Persistent Neighbor.

There is so much pressure in our culture to spend, consume, and accumulate; but the most beautiful financial stories include generosity. Giving is one of the most powerful acts of resistance we can employ to push against a culture of empty materialism.

What advice would your future self give? We think you might tell you: Be Present. We think your future self has a better perspective on the distractions and diversions we allow to pull our focus away from the people in front of us.