After the Paris Peace Conference that concluded World War I, French Marshall Ferdinand Foch bitterly observed, “This is not peace. It is an armistice for twenty years.”

As Gandalf the Grey confronted Saruman the White, it became clear that the latter had turned from what he was supposed to be doing—helping to protect Middle-earth from the power of the evil being Sauron.

A century ago, lush forest covered roughly 40 percent of Ethiopia, but today it’s around 4 percent.

Decades ago, I went to a college retreat where everyone was talking about a personality test. “I’m an ISTJ!” one said. “I’m an ENFP,” another chirped.

Leaving home one morning, Dean found some friends waiting with balloons. His friend Josh stepped forward.

“Prayers for an upcoming brain scan.” “That my kids would come back to church.” “Comfort for Dave, who lost his wife.”

Even after Jesus had set my son Geoff free from years of substance abuse, I still had worries.