Gaining a heart of wisdom
(And Be the Real Deal) Sunday Scripture Because we have been friends since we were teens, and because we were teens during the Cold War, my friend Judy and I have a long standing tradition of greeting one another with, "Hail, Comrade," and making frequent references to Soviet-era spy terminology that are funny only to… Continue reading Sure Fire Signs to Help You Spot the Real Deal
I love it when our kids call home. Often, it becomes a three-way (or even four-way) conversation, but sometimes our sons call and ask specifically to speak with their dad. When that happens, I know there's likely a decision in the pipeline, or they're working through a wrinkle in a relationship and want to vent… Continue reading Listening In to One Side of a Father/Son Conversation
Sunday Scripture Long ago there lived a great king with great wealth and great power. He had everything anyone could ever desire until, one sad day, his beloved wife died. The king set about the building of a majestic tomb, a memorial in her honor, and every day the king devoted himself to the task… Continue reading Pray for a Focused and Uncluttered Heart
Sunday Scripture My youngest son leaves for college at the end of August--or at least that's the plan. College in the age of COVID-19 involves a certain amount of uncertainty. To date, four of his seven classes have been declared "remote," but no one has even come close to answering his questions about how one… Continue reading What Does Suffering Have to Do With Hope?
Sunday Scripture I'm fascinated by the spiritual growth of my grandchildren. At 5 and 2, they know for sure that God made them. They know he loves them, and whenever we have "theological discussions," I am usually the one who walks away enlightened, because their thoughts about God come through uncluttered and full of joy.… Continue reading What Do You Know for Sure About God?
Sunday Scripture From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear,no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him."Isaiah 64:4 Once again, Israel was in trouble. Enemies on every side threatened to swallow them up, and this time, instead of turning to the Living God, they were… Continue reading What Does Waiting for God Look Like?
Sunday Scripture The ticking of our truck's hazard lights beat a cadence only a little faster than my pulse as we waited for roadside assistance. A blown tire on the mowing trailer (and a useless jack in the truck) had sidelined our plans for a productive Friday afternoon on the mowers, and I could see… Continue reading Is it Time for You to Take a Dependency Inventory?
Sunday Scripture Criticism is hard to hear. Even if it is well-intentioned and comes from someone who is qualified to critique my work, it has taken a long time for me to learn that criticism is more helpful to me than praise, because it will, ultimately, result in improvement and growth--if I receive the criticism… Continue reading Jesus Always Has Something to Say to You About Your Life
Sunday Scripture Captain Zsakhiem James has served on the police department in Camden, New Jersey for twenty-eight years. He laments the poor judgment and use of force that resulted in the death of George Floyd, and in an interview with World Magazine, he shared that "Camden's use of force policy has as its foundation 'sanctity… Continue reading What You Leave Out Is Just As Important As What You Put In
Sunday Scripture It's a short journey from regret to blame, from sorrow to anger, from sadness to bitterness. Defying the pull toward bitterness seems to be one of the tasks of mid-life and beyond, but the movement toward peace and contentment, while challenging, is also life-saving. The prophet Isaiah was gifted with staggering insight to… Continue reading God Will Always Get It Right
Living Our Days 