James Rush Manley – Writer

Saul’s long legs crossed the room in three strides. He turned, paced to the opposite wall, and returned again. “You’re sure it’s him?” he asked the soldier standing before him.

The guard frowned at the tense reception. “Ah, yes, sir. Abijah spotted him on the trail from Carmel. He has good eyes and knows Samuel’s walk.” More carefully, he added, “We thought you’d want to know right away, sir. He’ll be here soon …”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Saul dismissed him with a distracted wave, stared at nothing, and chewed a fingernail. Outside, shepherds organized flocks and herds under careful, appraising eyes. The best would be sacrificed, of course, but the very good remainder … Well, the men expected their right of plunder to be honored. Besides, taking care of Israel’s defenders made good sense for both morale and the economy. It was the wise and prudent thing to do. Samuel would understand good stewardship. Sandals slapped through the door. read more ...

The Samaritan forgot when he’d chosen shuffle over stride. Pain hadn’t stopped him. Dragging his drooping left foot across hot, sharp rocks produced no sensation at all. After a dozen falls gave as many painless, oozing wounds, sliding seemed safer. He clutched his robe close with the remainder of his left hand. His right hand—still with solid thumb and index finger—raised, swinging his staff forward in the familiar cadence—thump, slide; thump, slide. Sometimes, he’d keep rhythm with one of his Hebrew companions—until they noticed. He thought it fun, but they said fun was not for punished sinners. read more ...

“Are we getting anywhere?” Thomas groaned, pulling an oar. “We’ve been rowing all night.” The windy darkness hid Peter’s wry smile as he pulled with the others, not wasting energy on wit. Dawn couldn’t be far off, and they weren’t even halfway yet. He guessed three, maybe three and a half miles at best.

Suddenly, James let out a long, low moan, “Nooo …”

Oh, not again, Peter thought. Some people just never get used to boats. “Just do it over the side!” he growled. read more ...

Dark matter and dark energy make up most of our universe but elude detection, neither seen nor measured. Only their effect on surrounding galaxies betrays their presence. The morning breeze passes through open windows, invisible. Only billowing curtains and wet field smell translate its call of faraway adventure.

God’s favor flows around us continually, soaking everything with His goodness, yet, like a symphony to the deaf, passes unnoticed. Nor would any even suspect what they miss except for His distributors. He designed each of us to receive a specific piece of that blessing and then, in turn, dispense our unique portion. No two are identical, but together, we administer His grace in its various forms. read more ...

 
God says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Sounds good, especially for encouraging others setting out on grand adventures and hopeless quests. But why does our response to His call often leave us feeling rolled, spindled, and mutilated? What happened to supplying all our needs? Or granting wisdom, comfort, or money enough to do what He told us to do? read more ...

In the air, pilots survey vast panoramas, confident of encompassing perspective. But they miss the approaching storm, invisible behind the overcast. Mothers, outfoxed by precocious toddlers, believe life consists of jelly-smeared CDs and melted crayons smashed into wads of unmatched socks. They forget the world of humans taller than three feet, who speak in whole sentences. From the valley on the west, the snow-covered volcano Cotopaxi stands almost pastoral. Cultivated fields surround its base and climb its sides. From the high mesa on the east, however, it resembles a Mars probe photo—same mountain, different points of view. read more ...

Sometimes good captures us—the partner mission’s success; a neighbor’s new car and paid-off mortgage; a coworker’s great health, a clean house, and well-behaved kids; a wide-screen, high-definition, surround-sound home theater system. God gives good things, but the fight begins when the cute singer on the worship team expels the song from imagination’s space. Wrestle the thought and smash temptation to the floor. Don’t look there, turn the other way. But the other way is not like the other cheek. The beautiful monster escapes the restraining grasp and dances before our hearts with easy insolence—again and again and again. read more ...

We live within creation’s cage: the double twins of space and time, matter and energy. Their impartial rule treats us all alike. Money, hours, and strength go only until spent. Do the taxes, wash clothes, or hold your honey? Choose one. You can take enough fuel to go the distance, but what cargo stays behind? You can make the extra landing for the patient, but sunset will stop the flight short of the hospital. Limits dog life. Neither desire nor worthy need gains their attention. Their hard places define humanness and teach the brutal lesson quickly: There is not enough to go around. Get yours while you can. read more ...

We know the secret to success: pick up good pieces, assemble correctly, and point in the desired direction. Every action results in something. Choose the right effort; reap a good reward. Archimedes taught us that, given a big enough lever and a place to stand, we could even move the Earth. The proper combination of cause and effect works for everything—Legos®, houses, quilts, money, and life. But secret knowledge addicts us to success. We demand it as our right and then rage at God’s injustice when we fail. We manipulate universal building blocks but forget that batteries do not power creation while God sits back, watching it scoot about heaven’s floor. read more ...