“For the first time in EU history, defence ministers unanimously decided to activate the ‘mutual defence clause’ of the EU treaty. ‘France is requesting help and assistance from Europe. And today all Europe, united, answers yes’... ‘The European Union expressed its strongest, full support and readiness to provide all the aid and assistance asked for and needed.’ French president Francois Hollande had invoked article 42.7 of the EU treaty in an address to the parliament Monday.

In the wake of the Paris attacks, Pope Francis referred to the actions of terrorists as “a piece…of a Third World War” (The Washington Examiner, November 14, 2015).

Last weekend’s carnage in Paris was devastating and sobering. Watching people suffer who are made in the image of the Almighty God (Genesis 1:26) should sadden everyone. The day after the attacks, the Islamic State (IS) redistributed a video that contained threats against France and “called on French Muslims to carry out attacks” (Reuters, November 14, 2015). The message to France was, “As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace.

Ancient paths, found on every continent, were used by people living centuries ago to travel from place to place and trade their goods. These ancient pathways were the best route—or sometimes the only route—to take to arrive safely at the desired destination.

Once my sisters and I were visiting our parents with our families, pooling all of their grandchildren together, ages 18 months to six years. At the time, that made for seven children in all: six boys and only one girl, my niece Kyrstin. As all seven played, the six boys were teaming up, pretending to fight off some terrible, imaginary monster.