Unrealized Expectations

Millions of Americans spend their lives searching for happiness. Some look for happiness in love and marriage, others say they will be happy when they have a child, achieve a certain weight or make a million dollars. They’re convinced that they deserve this...

Answers to Prayer are Up to God

Sometimes it’s hard to understand how prayer works. We think that if we get our prayer exactly right, God will do as we request. There’s an assumption that if we have enough faith or get enough people praying with us, God will do whatever we ask. But we...

Nothing Seems Real

My wife and I are very close and I find myself talking to her about virtually everything that goes on in my life: the big decisions, as well as the daily trivia. It’s part of our daily routine. I often say to her, “Nothing seems real to me until I talk to...

Striking Out

I have a little note in my desk drawer that says, “Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times.” It’s a reminder to me that striking out is not a disqualification for coming back to the plate. When the apostle James was writing about teaching, he said,...

Teaching to Please God

In the society of first century Palestine, teachers held a position of great honor. Teachers had followers like the “groupies” who follow rock stars today. With such great honor attached to the profession, you can see why many wanted to become teachers at...