As a young teenager, there was nothing I found more enjoyable than being in the great outdoors, whether it was playing organized sports or fishing with my grandparents. My friends and I particularly enjoyed Summer, when we would be gone from breakfast until dusk looking for things to do that wouldn’t get us into trouble (and sometimes things that did get us into trouble). We relished the opportunity to wander the neighbourhood and the nearby forests and creeks, creating lasting memories. But most exciting of all was a weekend with “Gramps and Granny.”

Read the full commentary here - https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/lessons-from-squirrel-hunting

On a cool fall day right around Thanksgiving, I was sitting on the front porch of my son’s and daughter-in-law’s home enjoying a cup of coffee, taking in the beautiful bright red and orange colors of the foliage on the hillside that is part of Petit Jean Mountain. Listening to the birds and all the other sounds not heard in a city, and surrounded by this peaceful beauty, I wanted to know: How did Petit Jean Mountain get its name?

Read the full commentary at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/a-mountain-and-a-hope

For years, my dad has run—not jogged—down an unpaved road located just a few miles from our home. “The Old Dirt Road,” as we called it, was just one of the many farm roads that decorate the American South. This three-mile, undeveloped byway served my father well for his exercise of choice after a hard day’s work. It also served me, by giving me a chance to learn an important lesson from my father about planning for the future.

Read the full commentary here https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-old-dirt-road

The United States experiences deeper divisions with each passing day. With every tweet, headline, and lawsuit, people use the word “enemy” more frequently, despite being an especially harsh insult to call one’s fellow countrymen. When we see politicians and celebrities and activists label others “enemy,” we might call to mind certain teachings and lessons from the Bible.

Full commentary here - https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/jesus-said-love-your-enemies

The Star Wars series of blockbuster movies has thrilled audiences since what is now called Episode IV hit the box office in 1977. The theme of good versus evil, symbolized by the “Force” and the “Dark Side,” has captured the imaginations of young and old alike. The memorable characters, fast-paced action scenes, and cheeky dialogue pack theaters when each new installment is released.

Full commentary here - https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/created-in-the-image-of-god

It feels like bad news bombards us on every front these days. Sometimes, I mentally wince before tapping on a news app because it’s usually full of troubling headlines. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have intensified many already existing problems, and the continual cycle of stressful news has caused increased suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression, as many articles have recently shown.

Read the full commentary at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-future-is-brighter-than-you-can-imagine

We live in trying and stressful times. Now, more than ever, we need to have hope. Today, hope is generally considered a feeling of wishing for or desiring something. Is that the kind of hope we need?

Read the full commentary at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/real-hope-is-not-just-a-wish

There are times when I think that my dog may be smarter than I am. I believe that most dog owners feel this way at some point. This thought occurred to me on an evening when she helped teach me a valuable life lesson.

Editor's Note: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the world has seen many changes and countless people have suffered hardship and loss, both due to the virus and to the effects of nations’ efforts to combat it. As restrictions are being relaxed in various states and countries, it would be unwise to forget the spiritual lessons this experience has highlighted for us. We are rerunning this commentary, published almost one year ago shortly after the pandemic was declared, to remind us of the larger truths that remain as true today as they were when all of this began.

Read the full commentary at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/where-is-god-in-the-coronavirus-pandemic

A legendary investor sometimes referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha” is one of the wealthiest men in the world, with his net worth estimated at $90.6 billion as of January 2020. Warren Buffett is known as an astute businessman and philanthropist with an uncanny track record of selecting companies that will achieve long-term success. Through the decades, his companies have thrived. Yet he does not micromanage his vast, varied enterprises. It is said that he carefully chooses the person to head one of his acquired companies, lays out his goals and expectations, and then leaves that person to run the organization, usually checking on results annually.

Read the entire commentary at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-instruction-to-work-out-your-own-salvation