By Debra Torres
I could feel the little silver cross hanging from my neck as I drove my kids up North to see some relatives last week.

I loved my little cross and I had just started wearing it regularly. To me, it represented my faith and touching it there from time to time reminded me of it and brought me comfort.

But as we drove down the road, a speaker came on the Christian radio station that challenged me to be careful of my perspective of my necklace, or any other material representation of God for that matter.

Now I know that sounds kind of weird. It’s just a cross and it means something powerful right? But what I learned from Chip Ingram of the Living on the Edge radio broadcast ministry is that ... 

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By Michel Sauret - Guest Post

In 2006, my wife told me she was pregnant. We weren’t married then. 

We were both in college. 

She had ambitious goals of becoming a federal agent, while I studied creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

I became scared. Terrified, actually.

I knew – in my heart, in my mind, in my soul – that we had committed adultery, and there were consequences to be paid. 

People (even Christians, unfortunately) often question whether premarital sex constitutes as adultery. I think the clearest passage to address this question is when Jesus said, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27 / NIV) The “woman” in question in this passage is obviously not one married to the man leering lustfully at her. 

If “looking” constitutes adultery, how much more is physical intimacy?

Twelve (very emotional) weeks later, we lost the baby. ...

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By Debra Torres
The concrete sidewalk paths that wound around our housing development were perfect for a mother with small children.

There, my young boys could ride their big wheel, go puddle jumping and walk to a small wooden bridge where we used to feed the ducks and their ducklings in the water below.

All this while staying clear of any vehicles.

There was one path, however that led to a busy side street where cars would whip around a curve unexpectantly. And it was this path that we took once a week in order to trek over to our local library’s story time.

At that time in my life, I usually had one or two in the stroller and a few walking next to me, so it was important to find just the right break in traffic where we could all get across safely.

One thing I would say to my boys as they got in formation behind me was: “Remember to be like the ducks!”

You can probably picture us crossing: Me in front pushing the stroller and two or three boys behind trying to keep a tight line.

Just like a mama duck and her brood.

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Sticking close to God can be a slippery slope if we try to go it alone. He wants you to stick close to Him. And you can do it with His help.

By Debra Torres
A herd of sheep gently grazed on the side of the road as my friend Gustavo’s cycling group rolled to a stop.

Touring Italy, they had just completed a long, mountainous climb and now, after a small descent, they were arriving at the famous breathtaking display of wildflowers the Italians call Fioritura.


It was just a small break for the touring group of experienced cyclists so they 


could take in the vibrant beauty of the region. 

But for Gustavo, it will be one that he will remember all his life.

Gustavo had carefully chosen this cycling tour of Italy for its challenging heights and distance. It was just the thing he wanted to accomplish before hitting the age of 45.

It was the Giro D’ Italia – a 750-mile bike tour in just 15 days where cyclists visited seven regions of Italy and climbed a total of 51,000 feet vertically. 

Gustavo’s lifelong desire to be a professional cyclist had been squelched long ago by an illness. And to him, this trip was a second chance. An opportunity to accomplish a challenging tour among talented athletes that would push him to the limit. 

It was time to rediscover himself. But surprisingly enough, it was a little lamb that taught Gustavo his biggest life lesson on the trip.

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