Gaining a heart of wisdom
Today is just an ordinary day, and that's appropriate because by the reckoning of the liturgical calendar, we are in Ordinary Time—the long stretch between Pentecost in the spring and the first Sunday of Advent. Ordinary, however, need not mean tedious, especially for the believer in Christ. God has profound lessons and innumerable blessings to… Continue reading Find Joy Right Now—in the Midst of an Ordinary Day
For me, 2024 has been a year full of opportunities for in-person teaching with lots of invitations to share God's Word here in the great state of Maine. For a writer with mostly invisible online readers, the experience of seeing and interacting with my students is life-giving, and I've loved the personal connections. What most… Continue reading Use the Great Gift That’s Been Given to All Believers!
Fear is a powerful motivator. Even the reluctant student might memorize lists of data for fear of failing a class. Motorists maintain a more conservative driving speed in areas where police regularly patrol. Unfortunately, there is also the fear that paralyzes, which leads to irrational decisions and self-protective behaviors. Fear of God, however, is the supremely rational fear,… Continue reading Fear Bravely as You Are Strengthened with the Courage to Love
Summer time is famous for its beach reads, for light fiction with a happy ending or lots of breezy self-help selections. If that's you, then I'm not judging. Happy summer reading to you! Sometimes, though, summer is the perfect opportunity to go deep with your reading, to tackle a challenging author, to make time for… Continue reading Did I Hear You Say You Want to Go Deep with Your Summer Reading?
I'm watching a miracle unfold in my family. Four sons, imperfectly parented, are growing into healthy, responsible, and strong young men. Two of them have even gone on to become imperfect parents themselves, and somehow, by grace, we just keep on forgiving one another for offenses, both big and small, with the understanding that family… Continue reading The Challenge of Faith and Forgiveness in a Christian Family
He shows up every Sunday morning with a big smile and a small canvas bag full of candy. Swarms of children greet his arrival with joy, but it's his warm handshake and sincere delight in their lives that keeps those relationships alive as the kids become teens and then move on to adulthood. She is… Continue reading The Membership: Jayber Crow Discussion Group(4)
Living Our Days 