When Paul writes in Philippians 3:1, “Rejoice in the Lord,” it’s easy to read that as a pleasant encouragement. But we miss the power of those words unless we put them in their full context. Paul wasn’t writing from a beachside retreat. He was in prison. Possibly chained. Possibly alone. Facing the real possibility of […]

  In 1985, Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was fired from the very company he built. At just 30 years old, he lost everything—his job, his influence, and his sense of purpose. For a time, he was devastated. But instead of giving up, Jobs took this moment as a wake-up call. He adapted, founded […]

Brian Welch seemed to have everything the world tells us we should chase—money, fame, success. As the lead guitarist of the heavy-metal band Korn, Brian found himself at the pinnacle of stardom, playing to sold-out crowds, experiencing fame most of us can barely imagine. But beneath the glamorous surface, a silent battle was raging in […]

Expulsion isn’t just an ancient story about Adam and Eve leaving Eden. It’s something deeply human, something we experience in our lives. Expulsion is the feeling of being cast out—from a friendship broken by harsh words, from a family bond fractured by unresolved conflict, or from intimacy lost because anger was allowed to fester. Expulsion […]

When Beethoven composed his Ninth Symphony in 1824, he had been completely deaf for nearly a decade. This monumental work, culminating in the famous “Ode to Joy” chorus, was created by a man who could never hear it performed. At the symphony’s premiere in Vienna, Beethoven stood on stage to conduct, but the orchestra had […]

For two painstaking years, Rembrandt poured his heart into what would become one of his most famous works, “The Night Watch.” This monumental painting was commissioned by a civic militia group expecting a traditional portrait: a neat, orderly line-up of distinguished men. Instead, when Rembrandt finally unveiled his masterpiece, the sponsors were shocked. The painting […]

In 1888, a French newspaper made a striking error that would change the course of history. When Alfred Nobel’s brother Ludvig died in Cannes, the newspaper mistakenly published an obituary for Alfred instead. The article was titled “The Merchant of Death is Dead.” As Nobel read his own obituary, his heart sank. There, in black […]

In John 6:15-21, we encounter a profound moment where the disciples, caught in the middle of a storm, find themselves battling both the physical winds and the emotional winds of fear and doubt. They rowed for hours without making progress, struggling against a force far beyond their control. And then, when it seemed like all […]

Have you ever noticed the snake symbol on medical vehicles and buildings? This caduceus – a snake coiled around a pole – has become the universal symbol of healing. It might seem strange to use a snake, often associated with danger, as a symbol of healing. Yet this paradox connects directly to one of Jesus’s […]