Zach Sobiech

Zach Sobiech died this past Monday, May 20. He was eighteen years old.

I didn’t know Zach. In fact, I never even knew about Zach … until today.

The Serendipity of Loss

(cc) Paul O'Rear (Flickr)

(cc) Paul O’Rear (Flickr)

Webster defines “serendipity” as “the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for”. I like to think of serendipity simply as “an unexpected blessing”.

I lost my daughter Ashley to cancer in 2001. She was fourteen years old. I have learned many things about loss and grief in the eleven years since her death. One of those unexpected lessons is that there is blessing in loss.

Are You Going To Finish Strong?

Nick Vujicic, (cc) World Economic Forum - Flickr

Nick Vujicic, (cc) World Economic Forum – Flickr

I remember as a child hearing someone tell a joke (and probably repeating it myself) that went something like this:

  • “What do you call a kid with no arms and no legs?”
  • Answer: “First Base!”

Nick Vujicic (pronounced Voy-a-chich) probably heard lots of jokes like that growing up. Nick was born in December of 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. He was a healthy, happy, beautiful baby. There was just one problem. Nick was born with no arms and no legs. He was the kid we all joked about in third grade. Except, when it’s real, it’s not very funny at all.

The Prodigal Son (Prodigal’s Perspective)

Return of the Prodigal Son by Murillo

Return of the Prodigal Son by Murillo

[PART 3 OF 4]

In the previous article, we looked at the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the father in the parable. In this article, we will re-examine the parable from the perspective of the prodigal son himself.

Go ahead and read through the parable again by clicking here. Then come back and continue reading.

Where Were You?

Nine Eleven

(cc) Michael Foran – Flickr

Country singer Alan Jackson sang a song entitled “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?” referring to that fateful day in 2001 that will forever be remembered simply as “Nine Eleven”.

Do you remember where you were?

I will never forget.

I Wanna Be a Policeman

Police Officer

© John Roman - 123rf.com

[PART 4 OF 6]

What are the implications of this concept of “the sanctity of human life”?

Does that mean that it is wrong for a Christian to serve as a police officer?

If a police officer were to use deadly force and take the life of another person in the line of duty, would he or she be guilty of murder? Would he or she have violated the sanctity of human life?