death

“I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.”

When Frodo and Sam left the safety of The Shire, their perilous mission was to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mt. Doom located in the dark and deadly land of Mordor. Throughout their journey they battled sinister and terrifying enemies…and suffered the loss of several close friends along the way. But their resolve eventually brought them to Mt. Doom, and after a climactic fight with the treacherous Gollum, the ring was finally swallowed up by the heaving volcano. Middle Earth was safe…but the two tiny heroes weren’t!

Our species is enamored with taking selfies. It’s been estimated that Millennials will take a staggering 25,000 pictures of themselves across their lifetime! But it’s not just young people who want to get the perfect self-portrait.

Adults are doing it, too, and for some of them, it’s the last thing they ever do….

Like any other nation, the UK has had its fair share of violent crime. In response, governmental leaders have enacted major gun control measures in 1937, 1968, 1988, and 1997 rendering London (and its country) one of the most firearm-restricted places in the world.

But that hasn’t stopped violent crime….

On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake ruptured along the coast of Indonesia sending a towering tsunami racing toward the coastlines of multiple continents. When the waters finally receded, the world was shocked to learn that 280,000 men, women, and children had lost their lives in the waves.

One question loomed over the hearts of a grieving world: What should we do with a God who allowed such a tragedy?

In 2017, Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan were living in Washington, D.C. wondering if their lives were slipping away without fulfillment. So, the young and idealistic Americans decided to quit their jobs, jump on their bikes, and go see the world. 

But it can be tough out there.

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.” 

Stop signs serve a really important purpose: they warn drivers they’re approaching danger. But what happens if a stop sign isn’t where it’s supposed to be? What happens if there’s no warning?

Sadly, our entire nation learned that grim lesson back in 1996.

India ranks 15th on the World Watch List, a global survey that monitors Christian persecution around the world. The tragic story of Bartu Urawn shows why India deserves its ranking.

Let’s say you were going to try and chart a first-ever course through the frigid Arctic Ocean. What would you pack for the trip? Equally important, what would you not pack for the trip?

In 1845, Sir John Franklin learned the answers to both questions the hard way….