Author: Martin Wiles

I am a creature of habit — or ritual, if you prefer. While some habits are detrimental, I still maintain that, on average, many are beneficial. Like most people, I have a daily routine. I get up around the same … Read more

Their faces were solemn when entering the cafeteria, but smiles soon appeared as we welcomed them with "Merry Christmas" and loaded their plates with home-cooked food. When we offered them seconds, the entire group returned. As they shuffled through the … Read more

"It's what's on the inside that counts." How many times have I heard that saying and even uttered it myself? It's normally reserved for those who don't measure up to society's definition of beautiful, so we comfort people by telling … Read more

Footprints in the Sand is a popular poem that recounts the story of a person walking on the beach with the Lord. As life scenes flashed before them, they noticed how only one set of footprints were visible during the … Read more

Online dating has become a fad of the twenty-first century — one more sign of our highly technological society. Those who advertise themselves are supposedly available — not married or in an ongoing relationship. Unfortunately, this isn't always true. A … Read more

I'm proud of my name and heritage. Not that I have anyone famous in my family line, but I wear my name with dignity. Several years ago, I assisted a relative in writing a book on our genealogical history. I … Read more

Have you met parents who don't believe in corporal punishment? I wasn't fortunate enough to be born to parents with that philosophy of child rearing. I still remember the framed set of rules hanging in my room as a nine-year-old … Read more

I was extremely anxious. I had a family to support, but felt God's call into ministry. It was an appeal I had run from for some time. I finally gave in, knowing that it would mean uprooting my family and … Read more

Shortcuts are not always the best course. My brother, children, and I were day hiking in Panthertown Valley near Brevard, North Carolina. The map of the area, while perhaps legible to an experienced map reader, left a lot to be … Read more

Yeast rolls are a sumptuous delight when served piping hot. In fact, when served at a restaurant, I could make my meal on them and would almost choose them instead of a high-quality steak. There is just something about the … Read more