Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. John 4:14 Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, is vast and magnificent. Measuring one-mile-deep and nearly 400 miles (636 km) by 49 miles (79 km) across, it contains one-fifth of all the surface fresh water in the world. But this water is largely inaccessible. Lake Baikal is located in Siberia—one […]

Peace, be still! Mark 4:39 nkjv In Papua New Guinea, the Kandas tribe awaited with excitement the arrival of New Testament Bibles printed in their language. To reach the village, however, the people bringing the books had to travel on the ocean in small boats. What gave them courage to travel across great waters? Their seafaring skills, yes. But they also knew […]

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Revelation 21:4 James Oglethorpe (1696–1785) was a British general and member of Parliament who had a vision for a great city. Charged with settling the state of Georgia in North America, he planned the city of Savannah according to that vision. He designed a series of squares, each […]

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. —Psalm 119:130 Sanduk Ruit is a Nepalese doctor who has used his scalpel, microscope, and simplified cataract surgery technique to give sight to almost 70,000 people over the past 23 years. The poorest patients who visit his nonprofit eye center in Katmandu pay with just their gratitude. […]

Isaiah 43:15. I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. God, Creator of the world and all that exists upholds it, governs it, and righteously judges it. He who created everything is from everlasting to everlasting, the Alpha and Omega, First and Last. All mighty God ( EL SHADDAI) is the self-existent and all comprehending Holy […]

She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  Mark 14:8 She loaded the plastic container of cupcakes onto the conveyor belt, sending it toward the cashier. Next came the birthday card and various bags of chips. Hair escaped from her ponytail, crowning her fatigued forehead. Her toddler clamored for attention. The […]

By Dr. Jim Denison “Why are ghosts such bad liars? Because you can see right through them.” Ethan LyBrand has been supplying a “Joke of the Day” such as this one during the pandemic. His audience is part of what makes this such a terrific story: Ethan is filming his jokes to share through the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) social channels. […]

War broke out in heaven . . . . [And Satan] was cast to the earth. —Revelation 12:7-9 Philip Pullman is a gifted writer of fantasy books. His Dark Materials trilogy includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass and is very popular among young readers. But below the surface of these sympathetic characters and compelling subplots […]

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.  Isaiah 9:2 In the mid-1960s, two people participated in research on the effects of darkness on the human psyche. They entered separate caves, while researchers tracked their eating and sleeping habits. One remained in total darkness for 88 days, the other 126 days. Each guessed how long they could remain […]

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. —2 Corinthians 5:8 Recently, I wished a young friend “Happy Birthday” and asked him how it felt to be a year older. His playful response? “Well, I guess it’s better than the alternative!” We smiled and laughed together, but later […]

By Dr. Jim Denison Ed Jackson was a professional rugby player before a spinal injury in April 2017 shattered his career and left him paralyzed from the neck down. After months of therapy, he was able to regain some use of his body. However, he suffers from Brown-Séquard syndrome, a neurological condition in which his left side does not function well […]

At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Galatians 6:9 In Debbie’s new home, she discovered an abandoned plant in a dark corner of the kitchen. The dusty and ragged leaves looked like those of a moth orchid, and she imagined how pretty the plant would look once it had sent up new bloom-bearing […]

He said to the woman, “Did God really say . . . ?”Genesis 3:1 “I don’t think God is good,” my friend told me. She had been praying for years about some difficult issues, but nothing had improved. Her anger and bitterness over God’s silence grew. Knowing her well, I sensed that deep down she believed God is good, but […]

You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15–16 I can close my eyes and go back in time to the house where I grew up. I remember stargazing with my father. We took turns squinting through his telescope, trying to focus on glowing dots that shimmered and winked. […]

By Erick Erickson  I keep coming back to this passage on Elisha in 2 Kings. I don’t remember a week in the past year where I have not thought about it and I come back to it even more of late. You know the one from 2 Kings 6: 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in […]

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.Psalm 139:2 Veteran news reporter Scott Pelley never goes on assignment without his travel essentials—a shortwave radio, camera, indestructible suitcase, laptop computer, phone, and an emergency locator beacon that works anywhere. “You extend the antenna, push two buttons, and it sends a signal to a satellite […]

The timing could not have been better if I had planned it. Last week was the National Day of Pray and, as required by law, President Biden issued a Proclamation calling on citizens to pray. He also gave a short address, but in neither did he use the word “God.” Franklin Graham and Catholic League president Bill Donohue both commented […]

People who . . . lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20 My old dog sits by my side and stares off into space. A penny for her thoughts. One thing I know she isn’t thinking about is dying because dogs don’t “understand.” They don’t think about future things. But we do. No matter our age or health or […]

By Dr. Jim Denison The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that it will prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Their statement requires healthcare providers and other organizations that receive funding from HHS to provide medical services to transgender individuals. Such services include sex-change procedures for any and all patients who request them—even children. The HHS announcement […]