During a catch-up appointment with a young leader, I noticed how tired his eyes looked. Toward the end of our time, I asked him how he was doing. He responded that he was beat, having just passed through a rigorous season of travel and ministry. He had tried to take some time off, but things…
Hard-Wired, Fit For Heaven
It was my senior year, county championships, mile run. My coach had entered me because he said I might break the county record. My personal best was 15 seconds faster than any other runner in the field. On the starting line I leered at my competition, literally growled at them, saliva running onto my beard. …
A Sow Named Gertrude
There’s a sow who lives on my daughter Brianna’s farm named Gertrude. Because of her trim figure, she has avoided being a pork chop, and become a pet. A while back dogs attacked her and ran off with her ears. Yea, that’s right, her ears! Oh, don’t feel too sad for Gertrude, she’s still one…
Love Carries A Saw
My friend Bob used to remind me that God comes as love, carrying a saw. When he was 19, Bob and his brother crashed into a telephone pole, and walked away unscathed. But Bob stumbled going up the embankment and his arm touched a down power line. He said during his six month’s hospital stay…
Three Questions…
Another one in the books. Another 365 days, the slow grind of a year, that now glancing back, feels more like a runaway train. Today I take pause before the train leaves the station of 2023, and ask myself three questions. Perhaps one of these will resonate with you. Did I view myself as God does?…
A Moment with the Trinity
The Lord has given us boundless imaginations. Join me as I picture a moment with the Trinity. I see them ion’s ago; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sitting down at the far side of the universe to decide which one would interpret love to the soon coming human race. Each one of equal worth,…
Going to Work with Dad
My father put me to work at an early age. At six years old he gave me my first job; to carry 92 fire brick up to the second story of a home in progress. He gave me until lunch to do it. A mixture of fear and awe settled over me. Fear that if…
The Daring Dream
Christmas, the daring dream, Creeps ever closer. The silent night’s Holy birth of God, awash Into a world of angels. Children’s faces, Joy! Alighted by surprise, Squinting into mystery, Watch Him, who fell so far. Oh, sons of earth, Come! See Him, as we rehearse The daring dream of the star.
Grumpy Disciples-Contemplation’s Role in Re-creation
One of my favorite times of the day is what I call office hours. I shut the door to my office, put on piano music, light a candle, and close my eyes. The silence wraps me like a heavy blanket. My thoughts are a bundle of sharp brambles; their edges poke at me, a reminder…
Contemplation – One Step of Hope at a Time
A couple years ago, after heart issues had me in and out of the hospital, I fell into a dark place. I use the word dark to describe how sleep escaped me, and how each successive night of wide-eyed toss and turns left me weaker, more anxious and wondering if I’d ever get a full…
Contemplative Prayer-The Fire of transformation
It’s clear from scripture that God is fire. Moses stood before a burning bush, as well as followed that same pillar of fire guiding him in the desert. Tongues of fire appeared over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. The Bible describes God as a consuming fire. Which reminds me of a little bon…
Contemplative Prayer-Seeing the Son of Man
On the day after my first son was born, I stood at the discharge counter; only KJ wasn’t going home. We needed to transfer him to the children’s hospital trauma center. The night before a kind doctor had explained to us that our son was a very sick little boy, needing 3-4 operations the first…
To Sir, with love 