Tensions remain high in eastern Ukraine.  In certain areas, like the Dontesk/Donbass region and the city of Donetsk itself, it’s particularly tense.  The new Ukrainian president has initiated an “anti-terrorist” military campaign intended to oust the pro-Russian insurgents in various locations.  The result has been much fighting and the disruption of daily life.  The city […]

Undoubtedly one of the most remarkable world events of the past three decades was the fall of the “Iron Curtain” and dismantling of the former Soviet Union.  Though considered by many a great event in the progress of freedom and democracy, the fallout from these world altering events is far from over.  Several nations broke […]

At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995 a massive bomb destroyed the Alfred E. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.  At the time it was by far the most destructive terrorist act in American history.  It was, of course, surpassed by the events of September 11, 2001. In that April blast—19 years ago on this […]

Psalm 119 is well known, but for an oddity rather than for what it should be known.  This Psalm is commonly recognized as not only the longest of the 150 Psalms, but also the longest chapter in the Bible.  It is 176 verses long.  But there is a reason a very specific reason for its […]

Pat Peters began years ago as a youth minister attempting to encourage and train the young people he worked with to reach out to people in places of pain; at that time to people in a local hospital.  Before long, this led to his being invited to serve as a chaplain in the oncology ward […]

In our “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith” interviews the truth has been borne out that Scripture has played a vital role in handling not only the hardships and constant struggles of life, but the bombshells sometimes dropped on us.  That fact, coupled with a class that I recently began teaching brought my attention to a particular […]

Let me set the stage for just a moment: a previous interview (actually a two-part interview) focused on the story of Chuck Shaffer, a former minister arrested in an internet sting operation and who served time in a federal penitentiary .  He lost his career, his reputation, his standing in the community and the church.  […]

Who could know that one routine evening of getting the kids ready for bed with a seemingly innocuous complaint of a hurting head would lead to screams in the night, followed by an ER visit, and finally the shocking news of a tumor located at the base of 5-year-old Blake’s brain?  A tumor that just […]

How does a nineteen year old react to a life changing injury?  One that leaves you a triplegic (with the use of only one arm)?  How does one keep a positive, enthusiastic attitude while living life with so many physical limitations? Gilbert Howe shares his fascinating story of how so much more of his mind […]

A recent major transition in my life brought me to think about the challenges of transition and change. Transitions can be very difficult and throw our lives into a state of confusion and become a wholly negative experience.  Or, we can actually thrive during times of transition. Here are five principles I have gleaned that […]