It happened again yesterday.  I was ambushed by grief.  I was at a luncheon and an acquaintance mentioned that she would be attending her father’s 90th birthday party soon.  I felt the tears well up in my eyes, but I was able to keep the conversation going.  My father died this summer and I never know when that grief will get triggered.  My loss is fresh; maybe yours is older or still on its...  Read More

      There is an interesting miracle in Mark 8:22-25.  It states, “They came to Bethsaida and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.  When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’  He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’ ...  Read More

      My wife and I have five children, so we knew becoming grandparents was likely.  Although in our fifties, it feels odd to be grandparents but it’ not uncommon.  We now have one grandchild in heaven, one who is delightfully 1 ½ and one still in the womb that we will meet soon.  Yes, our toddler granddaughter is delightful, and I have many pictures if you are interested!  I must ask myself and ...  Read More

      How do you educate a teenage boy on becoming a godly man?  My wife and I have four boys.  What have we tried to teach them as they matured and became men?  One is now married with a child of his own.  One is newly engaged; one attends university; and one is learning to drive (just got his learner’s permit).  Consider that last bit of information a public service announcement!  As Christians,...  Read More

     Moving through my busy life, I sometimes ask myself, what is most important?  Thankfully, the Apostle Paul wrestled with the same question.  Here is part of his answer:“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appea...  Read More

     Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.’  Let’s focus on the end of this passage.  How do we “mourn with those who mourn”?  On June 17 my amazing father passed away.  I was and still am mourning.  How could someone help me and my sister?  How could someone help my mom who lost her beloved partner of almost 56 years?      My first encouragement would be ...  Read More

FINDING JOY     Everyone wants to be happy.  Everyone wants to have lives filled with joy.  How do we find joy?      First, live connected.  So many people are very lonely.  Our design as humans is to find connection.  First and foremost, with our Creator and second with others.  In the story of human origins in the book of Genesis it describes a time when God walked with man as a friend.  Each of...  Read More

      What is God’s dream or vision for your life? Most people settle for a job rather than embrace a calling.  In the Scriptures, we read about Nehemiah who held an important position as cup bearer to the King of Persia.  He had a significant job, but as he listened to a report from Jerusalem describing the broken-down walls of the city, he began to discover his calling, his special assignment fr...  Read More

     Grief, deep sorrow, is part of life when you experience a loss.  Maybe you lost a long-time job, a child to the living death of drug addiction, or the physical death of a spouse.  Regardless of the loss, embracing and walking through our sorrow is crucial to wholeness.  In the Bible we are told not to grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  What does it look like to grieve w...  Read More

     Love.  A powerful, impactful word.  Seeking love, sharing love drives much of our behavior in life.  Too many of us settle for some form of shallow love.  However, Jesus calls us to offer the world a bold and radical love.  He even tells us to love our enemies.  What does this even mean, to love my enemies? To love those who have harmed me? Let’s all acknowledge most of us would admit that we...  Read More

       Praying for your child to be healed and they die.  Sitting in front of a judge and hearing that you are now officially divorced.  Watching another scandal erupt in government, business, or even the church.  Deep disappointment is woven through life.  It is upsetting, even crushing.  How do we deal with it?      First, challenge and clarify our expectations.  Author Richard Rohr warns us, “E...  Read More

      Today, millions will celebrate Easter, focusing on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  However, we live in a skeptical age; is this just a myth or historical fact?  I grew up in a Christian home and remember as a college student worrying that I was a Christian simply because of my background.  I took several months and looked critically at my faith, and other faith leaders and systems.  I rea...  Read More