Let’s Make a Deal has been running intermittently for more than fifty years. On this game show, contestants try to trade up their prizes by “making a deal” with the host. If they choose well, they may start with a shoelace and end up with a new car—or, if they choose poorly, they may go … Continue reading Door #1? or Door #2? A Surprising Deal
Author: Cindy Matson
Shooting at the Wrong Basket: Three Ways Your Heart May Be Deceiving You About Your Spiritual Growth
It was the easiest basket she ever scored. Her teammate passed her the ball, and off she went down the court. She confounded the defense with her mad handles, and before they knew what had hit them, she was at the basket, scoring an easy two points. Everyone in the gym was shouting her name. … Continue reading Shooting at the Wrong Basket: Three Ways Your Heart May Be Deceiving You About Your Spiritual Growth
I Need Endurance.
We’re quite the sight. A baby happily taking in the outdoors, grinning impishly at any passersby. A large, rambunctious black dog lashed to the stroller, leaping for attention from any passersby. And me, trying to navigate the neighborhood without meeting other dogs in order to avoid kerfuffle and brouhaha. Normally I walk with headphones in, … Continue reading I Need Endurance.
Pray Attention
The grizzled, weather-worn football coach rose from his desk in the Driver’s Ed. classroom. He was about to impart knowledge. Maybe he was going give us the secret to passing our exam on the first try. Maybe he was going to let us go early. Maybe he was going to share his game plan for … Continue reading Pray Attention
Peace You Don’t Have to Imagine
“Imagine there’s no countries;It isn’t hard to do,Nothing to kill or die forAnd no religion too.Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say that I’m a dreamer,But I’m not the only one.I hope some day you’ll join usAnd all the world will be as one.” Those familiar words, penned by John Lennon … Continue reading Peace You Don’t Have to Imagine
Counter-Cultural Grace
On January 24, 2020, the youngest member of professional football’s royal family retired. Eli Manning, with as many Super Bowl rings as Peyton, never quite got out of his big brother’s shadow. Though he didn’t fill up the stat sheet like Peyton or set as many records, he had a knack for taking down Tom … Continue reading Counter-Cultural Grace
Is God Fair?
Part of the beauty of childhood is seeing things in black and white. For this reason, heroes in kids’ movies need not be flawed, and villains need not be redeemed. To a kid, right is right, wrong is wrong, with no gray in the middle. Because of this, kids quickly pick up on partial treatment. … Continue reading Is God Fair?
Halfway-Point Favorite Books of 2020
With June on its way out the door and the first half of 2020 nearly in the books, I thought I’d take a little time to tell you about my top five reads of 2020 thus far. Maybe one of them will be of interest or help to you. Saints & Scoundrels by Nancy Guthrie … Continue reading Halfway-Point Favorite Books of 2020
Be an Intentional Encourager
Have you ever had the experience of getting knee-deep in a project only to realize that it is not going to work out the way you thought it would? I once watched a YouTube video on how to repair my TV and thought, “Seems easy enough.” However, when I got the back off of the … Continue reading Be an Intentional Encourager
For the One Who Feels Invisible
Her name is associated with faithlessness, but not her own. Her master’s. She came to Abram and Sarai when they faithlessly went to Egypt to escape famine. Apparently, they purchased a slave for Sarai while they were there, or maybe she was a gift to Sarai from Pharaoh. Either way, Hagar now belonged to the … Continue reading For the One Who Feels Invisible