compassion

Dirk Willems was arrested in his hometown of Asperen, Netherlands in 1569. His crime – choosing to be re-baptized as a devoted follower of Christ and hosting worship services in his home – was completely unacceptable to the religious and governmental leaders of his day. The young Dutchman was carted off to a palace that had been converted into a prison to stand trial alongside other religious “troublemakers.” 

An outspoken Patriot, Michael Widman hated the British with a passion. However, the Revolutionary War era tavern owner would find himself accused of treason against America and be sentenced to death.

One man would step forward to help…but Widman hated him even more than the Redcoats.

Look, we’ve all dozed off during meetings here and there. It’s just a liability of being human. We’ve probably fallen asleep in class and even in church, too. No biggie, just a bit embarrassing.

But falling asleep during a meeting in North Korea has huge consequences. It can get you killed.

A high school free throw shot is 15 feet in length. When a student athlete makes the basket, anything from bragging rights to a championship could be on the line.…

Dachau Concentration Camp, 1945. A place of unrelenting suffering and death. More than 25,000 “enemies of the state” lost their lives in this hellish place during the Holocaust. Every prisoner trapped behind the wire jumped at the chance of escape.

Every prisoner except Viktor Frankl.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” Most of the time, we do. And most of the time, it’s going to get us a ticket from the cop standing at our car window. At the very least, a stern warning not to do it again.

Unless it’s a very particular cop from Plano, TX.

After President George H. Bush declared war on Iraq in the early 90s, a group of committed Christians in Atlanta gathered to pray. They prayed on behalf of soldiers, governmental leaders, and the future of all nations involved.

But one young man was evidently praying wrong.

Ask church people about their image in the community and they’re likely to reference “hospitals for the sick” or “lighthouses for lost.” Let’s face it; that’s how we like to see ourselves.

But one prostitute in Chicago has a completely different take on Christians and the Church.

In the violent world of African war where thousands of people shot bullets, South African photojournalist Kevin Carter shot film. The dangerous vocation of wartime photography put him in life-and-death situations on a daily basis…and eventually, it took its toll.

But Carter wasn’t killed in war. He took his own life…even after winning a Pulitzer Prize for one of his photos.

Jake Porter wasn’t exactly the most talented player on his high school football team. OK, that’s an understatement. He’d never scored a single touchdown. He’d never even ran the ball. Heck, he’d never even touched the ball!

But all that was about to change. And when it did, a lot of hearts would also be changed.