let go
by regina franklin on January 31st, 2013 | 10 responses
I spent the summer of 1992 tumbling, somersaulting, and plowing over the waters of Strom Thurmond Lake in South Carolina. Belying any grand designs, I was simply trying to learn how to water-ski. A painful endeavor, it revealed the deep level of determination I carry within me. One of my greatest... read more »
risk it
by pohfangchia on January 30th, 2013 | 7 responses
What’s one thing you hope to hear God say to you in heaven? I’m guessing it’s these words: “Well done, My good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). This verse is quoted so often that it’s invaluable that we understand its meaning.
In this passage, Jesus is like the master who entrusted... read more »
you choose Q: I feel depressed and angry, how can I get out of this hole?
by an odj community member on January 29th, 2013 | no responses
Q: “I feel depressed and angry. How can I get out of this hole?” —Olga
A: Anger like sorrow is a normal human emotion. It’s not necessarily a sin to be angry, and at times, not getting angry is sin.
As God’s children, we are to love what God... read more »
squash the beef
by marvin williams on January 29th, 2013 | 3 responses
During a promotional event, two 73-year-old former Canadian Football League players got into a fistfight on stage. They had a “beef” (a grudge or feud between friends, family members, or enemies) dating back to a controversial championship football game in November 1963. After one of the senior... read more »
January 28, 2013
by Today's Conversation on January 28th, 2013 | 10 responses
What has helped you grow in your love for God?
... read more »
faith and death
by winn collier on January 28th, 2013 | 4 responses
One of the most powerful scenes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the time when the fellowship must go through the mines of Moria, into the dark caverns underneath the mountain. They descend into this subterranean world where many had died from the evil powers lurking beneath the earth. Fearful,... read more »
expecting fruit
by tom felten on January 27th, 2013 | 6 responses
My neighbor planted some apple tree seedlings. Several years later, the mature trees bore fruit. But there was a problem. The first bushel of apples my neighbor picked contained some unwanted guests . . . uh, pests. Worms were found, leading his wife to conclude that a few bad apples do indeed spoil... read more »
human chameleon
by jennifer benson schuldt on January 26th, 2013 | 8 responses
Chinese performance artist Liu Bolin is known as “the invisible man” or “the human chameleon” because he blends himself into his surroundings. To do this, he covers his entire body in paint which perfectly matches his chosen backdrop. Liu has painted himself into real-life scenes which... read more »
work
by mike wittmer on January 25th, 2013 | 8 responses
The first thing you notice are the nets. They stretch tautly between buildings, hung to catch workers who might attempt to leap to their deaths. This is Foxconn, the behemoth factory in Shenzhen, China, where throngs of young Chinese manufacture iPads, iPhones, and computers for the world. As the... read more »
serve your oppressor
by sheridan voysey on January 24th, 2013 | 7 responses
A few years ago some young men stole my car. They crashed it, damaging it beyond repair, and I was never compensated for it. I even had to pay to have the car towed away from the crash site! By rights, those thieves should have replaced what they stole.
That type of justice was reflected in the Old... read more »














