While GPS technology is often helpful, there are a growing number of instances where it isn’t. For instance, a mother and her son rented a car to explore Death Valley; the GPS led them off the main road onto an unmarked path that eventually terminated in a dead end. Oppressed by the devastating temperature,…

LOST AND FOUND As of July 1, 2003 a new lifesaving technology became available to millions of Americans. Personal locator beacons similar to beacons used by mariners and aviators, allow lost hikers, campers, and others to be tracked in an emergency when they carry the devices. When activated in an emergency,…

In “Approved Life,” Joshua Saefkow writes, “In the 1951 children's classic, Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks Cheshire cat for advice when she comes to an intersection on the road. She said, ‘Cheshire, can you please tell me, which way I ought to go from here?’ ‘That depends a good deal on where you want…

The “Mythbusters” Television program, which airs on the Discovery Network examines urban legends, Internet myths, and other popular belief within the culture. Each week, the hosts of the program Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage test the myths using scientific methods and determine if they can be confirmed,…

In Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash A Revolution In Your Life in Christ, Peter Scazzero writes, “We're afraid of God's will being done because we can't control what he will do, when he will do it, how he will do it, and what the outcome might be. God's will requires surrender and trust, and…

A California man, who was lost out of bounds at a ski area, says he credits the ski patrol and his faith in God for his rescue. Michael Nessi said that after he became lost, he had intermittent cell service and was finally able to text his wife, but no one knew exactly where he was. While waiting in…

Three top contenders in the Bangalore Marathon were following their guide car when the car missed a turn and led the runners 2.5 miles in the wrong direction. “The runners discovered the mistake, which occurred about 9 miles into the 13.1-mile half marathon, only when the race crowd thinned and they…

In the Disney animated film Frozen, Olaf the snowman sings a song explaining how he longs for summer and all the wonderful things he has heard about the warmer season. His desire is to experience another season of the year and to feel the warmth of the sun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_axMza-fR3Q…

In the Disney animated movie Kung Fu Panda, Po is a struggling young panda working in his family’s noodle shop. Through a series of events, he receives the chance of a lifetime, his dream, to train with the Kung Fu masters. Under the leadership of Master OOgway, who is a mature, old turtle, Po begins…

IDENTITY In the motion picture, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Chloe is a dog living the good life. Her days are filled with lounging by the pool, sunning herself, shopping, and trips to the beauty shop. She belongs to an owner who panders to her every need, so Chloe feels free to look down on others around…

If you were on board a vessel, and had lost your bearings, you would be glad enough to see a pilot in the offing. Here he is on board, and you say, “Pilot, do you know where we are?” “Yes,” says he, “of course I do. I can tell you within a yard.” “It is well, Mr. Pilot, but can you bring us to the port…

A 50-year-old British woman decided 40 years ago, when she was only ten, that she didn’t want to have wrinkles when she grew older. She had been told that smiling would cause laughter lines to develop around her mouth, eyes, and forehead as she aged. She determined to never smile to avoid developing…

In the book, The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet, Stan Toler says one of the biggest struggles on earth is not fought on the battlefield, but rather in the living room over the television remote control. He writes, “If someone doesn’t like one of the 225 available satellite…

God's Desire Have you ever wondered what God wants from you? There are two references in the New Testament to God seeking something. In Luke 19:10 Jesus says, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (NASB) He said this right after his encounter with Zaccheus. Zaccheus was…

God's Voice In most relationships, formality tends to erode as familiarity grows. Recently, I called to pre-certify a hospital stay with our insurance company. The agent asked me for my doctor's name, I replied, "Dr. Pinon." "And what is his first name?" I didn't know. Why would I know? We're not exactly…

In a child of God there is a burning and a shining light that reveals the truth concerning sin. There is within him a something that cannot be silenced; this is that principle or power that John Bunyan calls in his Holy War, “Mr. Conscience, the Recorder of Mansoul.” You know that, when the city of Mansoul…

Author Gary Barkalow describes a time in his life, when he was really struggling. Gary says he had left a job, a place, and community that he never expected he would leave. He says he knew why he needed to leave and what he wanted to do, but did not know how to get there. During this period of searching,…

God's Will Does knowing God's will impact what you do and don't do? There are some things that we know are God's will. We know God wants us to read our Bible, pray and attend Church. I don't have to pray about whether I should love my wife today or provide for my Children. Other things require a search…

A voice-over actor sang "Let it Go,” a popular song from the Disney animated movie Frozen, using various Disney characters. The video reached over 2.5 million views and generated many positive feedbacks. Many of the viewers guessed which of their favorite Disney characters sang parts of the song, from…

Trusting to our own judgment often means following our own whims. But faith seeks direction from infallible wisdom, and so it is led in a right way. God knows your capacity better than you do; ask Him to choose your inheritance for you. If the flowers were to revolt against the gardener, and each one…

Patience How patient are you? On a surface level, I suppose that question has relevance. How patient are you with annoying people? Are you patient when you are in a hurry? Or do you have the ability to delay gratification? But really, I want to ask that question at a deeper level, do you have the patience…

GOD'S WILL Want to be in the center of God's will? Then turn to the center of God's word, the verse that is exactly in the middle of the Bible, Psalms 118:8 and follow the advise there: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (NKJV) Illustration by Jim L. Wilson GOD’S WILL…

Premier Health Plans has a new salesperson presenting their insurance plans to the public for purchase. Samantha West is a charming, jovial, and very knowledgeable about insurance plans. The only thing is she is a robot. She is controlled by people operating a call center who use her to cover up their…

Magdalena is a tortoise hatched in Zilina, Slovakia. Magdalena is actually two tortoises, Magda and Lena, at least they are two heads on one tortoise. Each head has its own brain and nerve system that causes quite a problem. It is a tortoise divided against itself. “The second head sometimes doesn’t…

In his autobiography, Vignettes of a Wonderful Life, Ralph Palmer lists four mottos that guide his life. 1. “Remember always to talk to and obey the Lord each day. 2. Thank God for the ability to see and enjoy beauty in all things. 3. Have an adventure a day to add spice to life and keep boredom away.…