Character

Character

"...that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world..." (Philippians 2:15).

As Christians, we are expected to shine as lights in a darkened world, setting an example for those inside and outside the faith. Our character must be refined until it stands out to all who come in contact with us.

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Red, Blue or God

"Red States" and "Blue States" now seem locked into America's everyday jargon. The so-called "Culture Wars" pit old time Americana values against the more progressive-liberal stream of the national psyche. Yet the terms Red States (politically conservative) and Blue States...
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Let's Keep on Going!

The adventures of the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton carry meaning and inspiration for those on the Christian journey.
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Kissed by an Angel

Could a chance encounter with a stranger be something more? Whether we’re helping an angel or helping a fellow human being made in God’s image, God wants us to be kind, merciful and loving—just as He is.
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What Are They Thinking of Me?

Making a good first impression is about more than your appearance—it’s about giving!
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The Test of Time

Thabo was tidying up the back of the farm shed. As he was removing some rusted pieces of metal, he noticed a metal rod. While he did not know what it was, he noticed that its grooves, threads and splines...
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Why America Should Be Thankful

Celebrating a day of thanksgiving for its blessings is an American tradition. But have more than half of all Americans today forgotten the original purpose for Thanksgiving Day? Is it now only "turkey day"—a day on which feasting and football...
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Wise Advice for Wise Decisions

How good are your decision-making skills? Have you ever wondered “what if I had...”—especially when you didn’t get the outcome you had expected?
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Undecided Voters, Undecided People, Undecided Christians

The 2004 U. S. election is over. But in the days leading up to it a small but significant number of voters were still undecided about their preference for their national leader. These "undecided" voters grabbed the nation's political spotlight.
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Choosing Your Future

Some people believe in “kismet,” or fate. Their death or “time to die” is preset, events were “meant to be,” and they are not in control of their own futures. Truly we do not have total control over very many...
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America, a Two-hearted Nation

America has heart problems—she has two hearts! The 2004 national election will largely determine which heart will dominate. The nations of the world wait—political stethoscopes in hand and ear—to hear the beat...
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Politics & Character

As the jarring accusations, arguments and harangues between political parties and their chosen candidates continue at full-throated volume in the U.S. election races, I have been reflecting on why the positive traits of character are so absent from politics.
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World News and Trends: Forty years of "do as you please"

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, acutely aware of the need to counter out-of-control crime and disorder in scattered areas of the United Kingdom, blamed the permissive 1960s for today's collapsing values.
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The Unelectable Candidate with an Unpopular Platform

In approximately two weeks Americans will go to the polls and elect the next president of the United States. Yet few Americans seem to realize that there are more than two candidates for this office...
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Treasure Digest: The $20 Lesson

I held up the dirty, crumpled $20 bill and asked the audience, "How much is this $20 bill worth?"
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'Let's Roll'

Todd Beamer became a hero Sept. 11, and his last words became a rallying cry for a nation. God's elect are hearing a similar cry to help save the world. Are we ready?
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Our Race Continues-"Going for Gold"

A Christian's life moves in continuous cycles of training and testing. We run a race that requires goal-setting, improving our performance and struggling against our own weaknesses and the competition.
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World News and Trends: Lack of guidance in making moral decisions

In a recent poll, American adults were asked what guiding sources they used in making ethical decisions and moral choices.
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Where Have All the Good Manners Gone?

What’s behind the growing epidemic of selfish, crude behavior, and what can you do to counteract it in your children?
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"Pink" Politicians are "in"

The major political parties in Germany are traditionally identified by color. Conservatives are black, socialists red, liberals yellow and environmentalists green. Now a new color has arrived on the political scene: pink.
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Discover the Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be a very sore subject for many. We have all experienced hurt or offense from someone. How are we supposed to react? Do we forgive and let the other person get away with whatever they have done? Recent...
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