A note from David Staal, who turned this writing space over to his son: "Many churches send teams on mission trips during the summer months, including youth groups. Reports from these ventures often focus on the work performed and the difference made in the lives of those people the team served. But what about the impact on the hearts of those who did the serving? Back home, parents passionately pray that God will tug on the heart of their child during the trip. I speak firsthand about those prayers; my son recently returned from his first mission journey (my wife was on the same trip). After you read the column he wrote for his high school newspaper, spend another moment imagining what would happen if more youth experienced a similar adventure of the heart. Go ahead, forward this column to your church's youth pastor."

We live in a world that revolves around our "stuff." We are constantly surrounded by an abundance of belongings. But too often, one item is missing: appreciation. Sometimes, ...