For several months, two people who are important to me have effectively shut me out of their good graces. We can't avoid interacting with each other, and when we meet, conversation is reduced to perfunctory exchanges, with not much enthusiasm. I will be frank here and admit that it hurts more than a little. In fact, I pass through most days with a melancholy accompanied by a lack of energy for most things.

I have tried to force myself to keep a happy disposition, and I've been temporarily able to use diversions such as seeing other friends or watching a movie to make myself feel…

This amazing story reinforces for Carol why she now obeys God right away when she hears him say something in prayer - He's got plans!

As a result of the first lesson in not sending the check the same day I felt called to do it (see previous post) – I was quick to obey when he directed me to pull into a church in my neighborhood. It was a Wednesday evening, and every Wednesday the church opens its doors to those in need and gives them a garbage bag to fill with clothing and shoes etc.,

I was driving home that evening at 7pm, and I found myself pulling into the driveway of that…

Pedro Gutierrez (not his real name) told this story directly to Bill Griffin, a frequent contributor to WTNESS.ORG.  Pedro is married to Felicia, and they have a son named Victor. A number of years ago, when Victor was in his early 20's, Victor was causing the parents concern about his rebelious behavior. He looked the part too: very long hair, drove a loud motorcycle, liked to wear a long black coat. He was dating a very attractive and well endowed woman at the time.

One night, Felicia was awakened at 2am by the impulse that she needed to pray for Victor right away. She woke up Pedro…

"God did that. He took my insecurity and amateur efforts and blossomed them into a powerful message..."

Several years ago my mother won a Minolta camera at a convention and gave it to me as a gift. I didn't know a thing about how it worked, so I decided to start at the beginning with a basic black and white photography class at Oakland Community College.

As the semester progressed, the weekly commitment of time in class and in lab as well as away from my daughter became a burden and I wondered if the whole thing was worth it.

Our final project was to shoot, develop and mat a…