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After you’ve heard “Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 7,” check out this devotional thought. (If you haven’t heard Part 7, check out the Media Player starting October 31. You can also find a station in your area.)



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By Elizabeth Goldsmith

When I was growing up, I loved visiting my grandparents. There was one holiday that we tried not to miss: Thanksgiving. It was extra special because it doubled as my birthday celebration. I have many wonderful memories of those Thanksgivings, as the turkey and pumpkin pie were supplemented by birthday cake and balloons. All of that came to a halt one June morning. A few months after one of our visits, my grandpa passed away suddenly.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is never easy. Even though we know that this life is only temporary, and that eternal life with Jesus will be wonderful and joy-filled, losing a relative or friend still hurts. And usually, it’s completely unexpected and we don’t have the chance to say everything we wanted to say! I didn’t know that the Thanksgiving of my seventeenth birthday would be the last time I saw my grandpa. I was happy that my last time with my grandpa was filled with joy. But there were still a few things that I wished I could say to him if I could see him one last time.

In Darien’s Rise, Anna didn’t know that, when she left the Old Judge’s cottage, she wouldn’t see him again. He died suddenly and without warning, and she was deeply affected by his death.

We all know that life is temporary, but it’s easy to forget that. It should be a motivation not to put off the important things, like telling people how much you care about them and how much Jesus cares about them. We can’t assume that we’ll always have time later to do and say those things. Don’t wait for a better opportunity. Do it today!

What simple things can you do for the people in your life to show that you care, and to tell them about Jesus? Let us know in the comments section below.

• Get a summary and discussion questions for Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 7.
• Check out the Passages website and submit your entry for the art contest!

Hear a preview of Part 8:

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After you’ve heard “Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 6,” check out this devotional thought. (If you haven’t heard Part 6, check out the Media Player starting October 24. You can also find a station in your area.)



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By Jonathan Friday

In today’s episode, Anna told Darien that he would have victory in the battle over Kellen… the Unseen One guaranteed it. But, Colonel Oliver, Darien’s right-hand man, thought the idea was crazy, and even Anna didn’t know how a victory could happen. How could 100 men capture a city? The odds looked impossible.

The funny thing, though, is that God seems to really like working through impossible odds. He used a runaway shepherd to lead a group of slaves through a sea when they were being followed by one of the best armies in the world. He saved a slave from a pit of lions. He protected three followers from being burned alive. He even chose a young unmarried girl to raise the world’s Savior. And when that girl pointed out that she couldn’t possibly have a baby, God’s messenger responded: “…nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Later, Jesus did many miracles that seemed impossible, and taught things that were just as hard to believe. When his believers got discouraged because something looked impossible, Jesus told them, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27, NIV.) Then he proved it by dying and coming back to life!

So how come we still cry over “unsolvable” problems in our families? Why do we panic over homework that “will never get done?” Why are we afraid of so many things? Why don’t we have confidence that anything can happen, with God? Maybe it’s just the way we are…or maybe we can change it. What do you think?

How would you live differently if you acted as if nothing was impossible, with God? Give us your thoughts in the comments below!

• Get a summary and discussion questions for Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 6.
• Check out the Passages website and submit your entry for the art contest!

Hear a preview of Part 7:

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Paul Herlinger

Actor Paul Herlinger and executive producer Dave Arnold talk about acting in New York, escape from Europe, the mysterious process of vocal foley, and surprise listeners on a train.
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After you’ve heard “Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 5,” check out this devotional thought. (If you haven’t heard Part 5, check out the Media Player starting October 17. You can also find a station in your area.)



Hear a preview of Part 5:

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By Elizabeth Goldsmith

Rock Climbing

I have a moderate fear of heights, and, on a good day, an above-average adventurous streak, so when I was invited to go rock climbing for the first time in my life, I eagerly…and nervously…said yes. It was one of the best decisions I made that summer. It won’t say that it wasn’t hard or even scary at times, but getting to the top made the entire climb worth it. And until I set out on this adventure, I never realized how rock climbing can be a lot like living the Christian life. Stick with me on this one.

Ignoring your fear of falling is very important in rock climbing. There comes a time when you have to leave secure hand and foot holds…when you have to reach up and hope there’s something above you to hold you. The good news is that, no matter what happens in the climb, the rope is always there. Even if you make a mistake and slip from your holds, the rope will keep you from falling very far. Oh how hard it can to turn that mental knowledge (“I know this rope will hold me!”) into physical action (“So I’m going to climb higher off the ground.”)!

As a Christian, it’s sometimes easy to get comfortable and stop growing in our faith…to stop reaching higher. But God wants more for us. He calls us to keep striving to be more like Him, to keep stepping up in faith, and to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. And if we make a mistake when we strive to know Him more, He’s there to catch us if we fall.

Being anointed as the future king of Marus hasn’t made Darien’s life easy, as we’ve heard so far in Darien’s Rise. He’s had to make many sacrifices: he left his home and his family, he had to hide in caves, and danger was around every corner. He could have rejected the Unseen One’s call and said, “But I like my life just the way it is!” And yet, despite his hardships, Darien knows that he is following the Unseen One’s will and calling in his life, and that makes it all worth it.

The Christian life is a time of challenge. Instead of being content with our relationship with God, we need to reach higher, serve him more, and come to know him better. If we don’t, we’ll could miss out on all the exciting (and challenging!) things that God has planned for us. There will be hard times, complete with scraped knees and sore fingers, but don’t let them stop you from climbing higher. Remember, God is always there, ready to catch you.

How are you seeking God in your day-to-day life? Post a comment and tell us!

• Get a summary and discussion questions for Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 5.
• Check out the Passages website and submit your entry for the art contest!

Hear a preview of Part 6:

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After you’ve heard “Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 4,” check out this devotional thought. (If you haven’t heard Part 4, check out the Media Player starting October 10. You can also find a station in your area.)



Hear a preview of Part 4:

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“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

A sunny day

I usually try to avoid driving in the winter when the weather’s bad, but one snowy January day I had to get to the airport. I was praying during the entire two-hour drive, and my arms were sore because of how tightly I was holding on to the steering wheel. Finally, I made it to the airport. I was so thankful to God for keeping me safe.

But what about normal, sunny days when everything’s going great? How easy it is to forget that God provides for us in the good times, too! Part of being a Christian means depending on God to meet all our needs. But when everything at home and at school is going well, it’s sometimes easy to forget Who is holding us up. It is, after all, God who provides us with air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink.

In this week’s episode of Passages, it seemed like danger was following Darien around wherever he went. King Lawrence was out to get him, but the Unseen One was there too, protecting him. Darien had a close relationship with the Unseen One, but it wasn’t just because of the dangerous times. Before the King turned against him, back when he was just a farm boy living a peaceful life, Darien had faithfully followed the Unseen One even when so many others were turning away from Him.

It’s comforting to know that God is there when you’re sad, lonely, upset, or scared, and that nothing can happen to you that He doesn’t know about. But God is also there when you’re happy, excited, and everything seems to be going your way. The closer we are to God during the good times, the more prepared we’ll be for the hard times. Learning to live for God every day isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important things you or I can do.

What is a way that God provides for your needs? How can you thank God today for the blessings he gives? Sound off in the comments below!

• Get a summary and discussion questions for Passages: Darien’s Rise, Part 4.
• Check out the Passages website.

Hear a preview of Part 5:

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