“The meaning of your life is the meaning you give it,” writes philosopher A. C. Grayling in his book Thinking of Answers. He suggests trying to create meaning in our lives through the pursuit of relationships and goals, by developing our talents and interests, and through our hopes and... read more »

Have you ever wondered why Jesus taught His followers to eat His “body” and drink His “blood” during the Lord’s Supper? The Jews misunderstood the idea (John 6:52), and the early Christians were even accused of “cannibalism.” Couldn’t Jesus have described this special meal with less... read more »

The words must have sounded naïve. I wonder if Peter even stifled a snicker. After a long, exhausting—and ultimately unsuccessful—night’s work, he was thinking of a hot breakfast and a comfortable bed. The last thing he needed was some rabbi telling him how to do his job. It was early... read more »

What is Jesus worth to you? Most Christians would answer, “Everything.” But if He were here in the flesh, would you sell all your possessions and throw Him a $50,000 party? Would you sell a prized family heirloom to fill His house with a million roses? We can hardly imagine Jesus accepting such... read more »

Sometimes life is tedious. While self-help books promise endless passion for life and the mystics promise endless ecstasy, the reality is that many of our days are simply mundane. And they need to be. There are clothes to wash, forms to complete, toddlers to feed, drains to unclog, papers to write,... read more »

Imagine you’re a member of an organized crime ring with connections to corrupt city authorities. You discover someone who knows your gang’s every deed. One night you decide to round him up. He has to be silenced. Your thugs bring him to you and you hatch a devious plot. A news conference is held... read more »

A person’s words are inseparable from the person speaking them. Think about your own words. They come from you and are uniquely yours. Your words communicate your heart. They come from your inner self—your soul—and express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, and character. Your words are spoken... read more »

A tall, cold glass of water. The condensation on the glass cools my hand. Clear, pure, colorless, odorless; free of man-made chemicals and corruption. I lift the glass to my lips and drink this water that deeply refreshes. A small, gurgling stream in the forest. Silky ripples, floating leaves, water... read more »

Mega-successful TV chef Rachael Ray is hardly one of the elite. “She cannot cook like I cook,” commented her rival Martha Stewart. “She cannot craft like I craft.” Yet Rachael has won viewers’ hearts—not least of all because of her charitable approach to her critics. Author and chef... read more »

I’m an exhibitionist,” said the surrealist artist Salvador Dali. “Life is too short to remain unnoticed.” And actress Marlene Dietrich once released an album made entirely of the applause recorded at her cabarets—which she frequently played for her friends. The desire for praise is never... read more »