When I was in high school, I read the story of a man named Ernest Shackleton, and I’ve never forgotten it. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Shackleton set out to accomplish what, at the time, seemed nearly impossible: reach the South Pole. On one expedition, his ship became trapped in ice and was eventually crushed. Shackleton and his crew spent months stranded before he and five other men climbed into a small boat and sailed roughly 800 miles across some of the mos

I still remember Christmas of 1995. I was an 11-year-old girl with exactly one thing on my Christmas wish list: a Sony Discman. Not just any Discman—the Sony D-143 with MegaBass and Electronic Shock Protection. If you grew up in the '90s, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. When I opened that box on Christmas morning, I thought I had arrived. It wasn't just another gift; it was the most valuable thing I owned. I carried it everywhere. To me, it was priceless, an

Have you ever been humbled? I certainly have. Back in college, while Mya (my now wife) and I were dating, we were both involved in student leadership. One semester we led the men's and women's ministries on campus. We organized events together, discipled students, and honestly, I thought we had both done an incredible job. At the end of the semester, the school held an awards banquet to recognize outstanding student organizations and leaders. As they described the Student Org

Have you ever walked into a dark room and instinctively reached for a light? Even the smallest candle changes the atmosphere. It doesn't eliminate all the darkness, but it gives people enough light to see where they're going. I think that's the picture Paul had in mind when he wrote to the church in Philippi. He tells believers to "shine as lights in the world." Not because the world is easy to navigate, but because it isn't. Followers of Jesus are called to reflect His light

Have you ever found yourself wishing you were somewhere else? Maybe you've complained about your neighborhood, your town, your workplace, or even the state you live in. It's easy to believe that life would be better if God would simply move us somewhere new. But what if God has a purpose for placing you exactly where you are? When we read Jeremiah 29:11, most of us immediately think about God's promise: "For I know the plans I have for you." It's one of the most quoted verses

I recently came across the story of a young man named Ray Anthony Jackson. When he was born, his fifteen-year-old mother was unable to pay the hospital bill. Desperate for help, she called a family friend who happened to be a military veteran. He agreed to sign the paperwork as the child's father so the bill could be covered. After that day, he disappeared from their lives. Years later, when Ray was in high school, he finally met the man whose last name he carried. He thanked

About sixty years after the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, another church leader found himself facing persecution. His name was Polycarp. At eighty-six years old, Roman soldiers finally found him after years of searching. Instead of resisting arrest, he invited them inside, prepared them a meal, and asked for one hour to pray before they took him away. They agreed. History tells us he prayed for two hours. Even more remarkable, several of the very soldiers

There’s something about home that resonates deeply within all of us. After a long vacation, we find ourselves saying, “There’s no place like home.” After spending time with extended family over the holidays, sitting through a week of work travel, or simply enduring a long day, we long for the comfort of familiar surroundings. Home represents rest, belonging, safety, and peace. But have you ever stopped to wonder where that longing comes from? I don’t think it’s random. I don’

by Pastor Jacob Pull a slingshot's bands back. The pouch moves in exactly the opposite direction it's meant to go. Stretched tight. Moving backward. Then it's released. And the backward movement turns out to be the very thing that gives it momentum. Most of us know what that feels like. A job ends sooner than you expected. A relationship gets harder instead of easier. A plan you built real hope around starts to unravel. It can feel like you're losing ground. Like life is movi

If you've ever flown over a city, you know how different everything looks from 30,000 feet. The streets form neat little grids. The people disappear. The details fade away, and all you see is the big picture. Then you land, get into a car, and drive through the city. Suddenly, you notice things you couldn't see from above. The people become visible. The neighborhoods take shape. The details begin to emerge. But then something changes again when you get out of the car and star