I recently watched the new Fantastic Four movie with my family. Compared to some of the recent Marvel movies, this one was good, and I enjoyed it. Beyond the cinematic entertainment, the film also carries a fascinating moral dilemma worth exploring. I think I can say without spoilers that the movie’s premise revolves around one ethical decision: would you sacrifice your baby son to save the earth? The plot is reminiscent of the old philosophical riddle about having five adult

Advent, the season of expectation and preparation, turns our hearts toward the marvelous truth that Jesus came so that our joy may be complete. John 15:11 summarizes this profound promise when Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” This isn’t a wishful thought; it’s the very purpose of his coming. More Than a Feeling The joy Jesus speaks of is not the fleeting happiness of a holiday morning

Since we are in the middle of Advent 2025, now is a great time to reflect on some of the biblical passages that we sing in our Advent hymns. The two hymns that I will focus on in this article are primarily about prophecies in the Old Testament that foretell Jesus’ coming. Part of the inspiration for this post comes from the Nine Lessons and Carols service, originally held in Truro, England, in 1890 and later established by King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918. These services us

Life can hit us hard. When it rains, it pours. The struggles we face in our modern 21st century are eerily similar to those experienced by people who lived centuries ago. Suffering is a common thread among humanity… and Jesus is the cure—not to remove our suffering—but to give us peace through that suffering. Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts

It’s always ironic to me that after Thanksgiving—a holiday to pause, reflect, and give thanks—Black Friday follows immediately after. It’s a day of deals, frenzy, and the push to buy more and more. Buying things isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s striking how quickly the world tries to steer our hearts from gratitude toward discontentment, comparison, and a scarcity mindset.   But Jesus teaches us an upside-down way of living.  He taught lessons like: "the first shall be last,"

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ( Isaiah 9:6). As we enter the first week of Advent, we remember the hope we have in Jesus. For centuries, the Israelites heard prophecies of a coming Messiah—one who would deliver them. Hope Then The Old Testament is filled with a deep sense of expectancy and waiting. Through slavery in Egypt

What are you grateful for? Gratitude is more than just a list of words on paper. It is what keeps us grounded and connected to God in the midst of noise, chaos, busyness, and division. Instead of telling ourselves that we don’t have enough or will never measure up, gratitude keeps us centered on what matters—it keeps us centered on the God who loves us, who created us, and who breathed life into each and every one of us. As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, gratit

If you have been a follower of Jesus for any length of time, you have probably read a book or heard a message on Christian disciplines. Christian disciplines are the activities we engage in on a daily basis in our relationship with God. They include activities like Bible study, prayer, and gathering with biblical community. If you talk to someone who has been a Christian for over a decade, I’m sure they would tell you that there are times when the Christian disciplines are ju

The YouVersion Bible App is celebrating over one billion installs across its Family of Apps this November. As we’ve prepared as an organization for this milestone, we constantly say, “This is more than a milestone. This is a moment to celebrate God’s Word.” Because that’s exactly what it is!  Over centuries, God’s Word has taken many different forms—from ancient scrolls to bound pages to an app on a screen. This milestone is evidence that God’s Word is alive and active and it