"Stop possessing it," instructs Gandalf the Grey to Bilbo Baggins as they first discuss the ring that animates one of the most significant literary works of the 20th century: J.R.R. Tolkien's T...

Maria Nikolajeva, a Cambridge University professor of literature, says it's clear why themes of darkness appeal to the young. "We all remember being teenage is a difficult period, full of contradictions—d...

Some Faithful Thoughts from The Life of PiGet downloadable PDF.Get downloadable PowerPoint presentation.About/DisclaimerWhat HappenedThanksgiving is a time to express our gratitude to God and others for all the...

"Now the body is not made up of one part, but of many" (1 Corinthians 12:14).When I was in college, I had a friend who was a pre-med student. In one corner of his apartment hung a full-sized plastic skeleton, c...

"Pastor Shaun, you were right...we should have listened." Those were once words that would have brought me much joy and pleasure. "Hah! I told you so!" probably would have proceeded from my lips if not for year...

High in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the aspen trees mark the end of summer and the coming of winter. Against the deep blue sky and the dark green of the pines, the aspens turn golden. If one takes the time...

As a youth minister working with volunteer leaders, there are two approaches you must avoid. I call these two destructive approaches Users and Doozers.A User is someone who simply uses his or her leaders to acc...

Have you ever wondered if you could pass God's smell test? Did you know He had a smell test?Follow your nose through the passages below. Each time you see a reference to smell, note who is doing the smelling an...

I participated in mission trips as a kid and then worked for a mission trip organization in college. Both ends of the spectrum had a profound impact on my faith. Neither equipped me to plan a trip from start t...

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent and praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4...