Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. —Proverbs 4:23 The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. Someone in this country has a heart attack every forty-two seconds, resulting in 610,000 heart-related deaths per year. If your heart malfunctions, you’re in trouble. Solomon spoke […]
Love your neighbor as yourself. —Luke 12:31 Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, the annual Texas Book Festival in Austin is one of the country’s most prestigious literary events. Featuring 300 nationally recognized authors, attendance averages 50,000. One presenter encouraged aspiring authors to “Write
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Search me, O God, and know my heart. —Psalm 139:23 Bold white letters on a solid red background of the billboard screamed: “This year thousands of men will die from stubbornness.” In smaller print, it targeted men who neglected medical screenings and died from
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If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. —John 7:37 Margaret Bradley, a University of Chicago medical student and veteran marathoner, attempted a Grand Canyon “day run” in 120-degree weather. Unaccustomed to Arizona heat, Margaret died from dehydration. Yes, dehydration can be fatal. At Jacob’s
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I have given you a land for which you did not labor. —Joshua 24:13 The last sentence of the Declaration of Independence runs: “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on
Approval ratings of politicians are at an all-time low. In a Gallup poll, Americans were asked to rank twenty-two professions for honesty and ethical standards. Congress scored next to last. We long for integrity in our elected leaders, but it no longer surprises us when a politician is caught lying, discovered taking bribes, exposed as
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You became a model to all the believers. —1 Thessalonians 1:7 In 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, Paul sketches a three-panel picture of authentic Christianity: “You turned to God from idols / to serve the living and true God / and to wait for his Son
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We all stumble in many ways. —James 3:2 The longest winning streak in college sports history ended on January 18, 2012, when Trinity College’s squash team lost to Yale after 252 consecutive victories. It was Trinity’s first loss in fourteen years. Coach Paul Assaiante received an email
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. —Ecclesiastes 1:2 Solomon is the perfect portrait of opulence. He had it all. In a single sentence, he summarized it: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Eccl 2:10). Even so, he came up empty: “Vanity of
You have heard of Job’s perseverance. —James 5:11 Most of us grew up hearing the phrase, “She has the patience of Job,” to describe someone who calmly faced adversity. My reading of the book of Job shows him to be far from
