Brenda Wood

We've worked our way through boring, impersonal, trivial, and accepting prayers, and wonder how much worse our prayer life can get. Our prayer life slackens. Where are we going wrong? Habakkuk's prayer may revitalize ours. He demands God … Read more

A recovering alcoholic once told me that he ate a bunch of chocolate bars because he couldn't get his hands on a bottle of whiskey. Then, he said that he had to stop overeating because it gave him the same effects as the booze. That … Read more

The World Health Organization works hard to keep us aware of the latest flu epidemic possibilities. We are cautioned to get the flu shot, wash our hands to a couple of choruses of "Happy Birthday", stay away from crowds, and sneeze into … Read more

My friend was painstakingly peeling cloves of garlic with a huge butcher knife. (Women often use the nearest tool at hand, thinking they are saving time!) "Why do you peel garlic like that?" I asked. "There is a better way." "Will you … Read more

Middle-aged Susan dreamed of being a professional singer. The odds seemed against her, but she held on to that dream through all sorts of setbacks and disappointments. She kept her composure even when people laughed at her. … Read more

The honker arm-jerked the bronc rein and crow hopped across the arena. The mash up grabbed the apple to avoid the back door and the crowd saw daylight. Meanwhile the pick-up man and the clown had a run-in with the stargazer. The animal's … Read more

Strongholds! The root word means "castle". Instead of leaning on God, the Israelites tried to protect themselves from their enemy in "castles" of their own making. Only then, did they discover that a stronghold isn't really like a castle. … Read more

I was quietly nursing my coffee in a local restaurant, but I couldn't help overhearing the conversation at the next table. "I was forced to get married," said one fellow to his friend. "I got my girlfriend pregnant, and so in those days, … Read more

2.6 billion people world-wide (1.6 million in the U.S.A. alone) have no sanitation. That is four out of ten people who have no access to any latrine, toilet, bucket, or box. The disease toll is stunning. One gram of feces can contain ten … Read more

My long-anticipated Chronological Study Bible (Thomas Nelson) finally arrived this week. I don't know how they managed it, but this medium-sized, easy-to-read print Bible is chock full of cultural information, time capsules, and … Read more