Does God really expect me to do what He asks? I think about the dad who had something to give his young son and asked him to hold out his hand. "Why?" asked the little boy with his hands firmly clasped behind his back. The father repeated his request, but the son kept asking "why"—and missed ... Read more
Jesus Wept Perhaps they had spent hours together swapping stories and experiences, carpenter stuff like mortise and tenon joints. Maybe Lazarus was pretty handy with tools too.Whatever the history, when the Master stood before the tomb, my Bible simply says,... Read more
Remembering Jere... "A prince in Israel has fallen! He left like he lived. Quietly. Graciously. With gentle dignity. Without demands or harsh words or even a frown, he surrendered himself, a tired gentleman and statesman, into the waiting arms of his Savior. Good-bye... Read more
Reclaiming the Lord's Day A few days ago someone shared an article with me from the Catholic newsletter, Our Sunday Visitor. The title captured my attention— "Reclaiming the Lord's Day." In it our Catholic brother stated: "There was a time when Sunday was a special day. It... Read more
Ask PJ Question: Does God even notice me?You know it's easy for teenagers to feel like no one notices them. In addition, many feel they go unnoticed by God.Well, guess what? You're not alone—many of us wonder if God is oblivious to our situation.A few we... Read more
Perils of the Piously Peeved Every now and then I catch myself slipping into the role of curmudgeon, muttering about things I dislike:Supermarket express-line crashers who can't count to 15Drivers who religiously run red lightsPeople addicted to long, loud cell phone conversa... Read more
Being Extraordinary for God God calls us to be the best we can be—faithful, honest, charitable and kind. But what does "the best" mean today?Often we measure our success by our work. Yet, being the best to God doesn't mean we have to be rich and famous or wildly successful b... Read more
Ask PJ Does How I Look Reveal Who I Am? There is always more to a person than the clothes they put on, the makeup they might wear or the attitude they carry.When Israel was in need of a new king, God sent Samuel on a mission to Jesse's house. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 16. He loo... Read more
A Plan of 'Salivation' It was late in the evening. After a long and tiring trip my beloved and I finally arrived at our hotel room, famished and tired. I quickly scanned the "in-room service" menu and spied the perfect item, described by an unfamiliar term: "Crudite—An ... Read more