Quick BackdropIt happens to all of us—that occasion when you know you need to have personal quiet time or prayer time, but you don't know what to do. Without a plan, it's more likely that you will&nb...

The BackdropYou've probably heard of the word sabbath, and you may have a good idea of what it means; but as much as that word shows up throughout the Bible, it actually gets very little play in Christian ...

The Backdrop:Pop quiz: What material did Adam and Eve use to create their first garments the moment they saw that they were naked?If you're thinking fig leaf material, you're right. Now, use your imagination fo...

The BackdropIf you haven't yet, you may want to do the devotional "Working from the Inside Out" before you embark on this devotional. As you probably can tell by the titles, these two devos go together, this be...

A few days before the deadline for this column, my saintly grandmother of 102 slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus. It seems appropriate to write about her. So, if you don't mind…She was the mother o...

The BackdropHave you ever been in a situation in which the harder you try the more you fail? Maybe it was dieting; meeting homework deadlines; trying to stop one of those habitual, nagging sins; or maybe you ca...

Think what comes to mind when you see the word koinonia.You probably recognize it as the Greek word for fellowship and likely know it as more than potluck dinner fellowship. Fortunately, this word effectively h...

Quick BackdropOf the many feasts the Israelites of the Old Testament celebrated, one in particular was called the Feast of Weeks. This feast was a party 50 days after Passover to celebrate the spring harvest. B...

Quick BackdropSome call it the Easter drop off, the commitment fade or the spiritual let-down. If you're connected to a church or youth ministry, you've just come through the Easter season, the highpoint of the...

The BackdropPonder how ludicrous church can sound: Nowhere else do we gather with other people to sing, listen to other people sing, hear one person talk—and give money...voluntarily!This is chu...