CoffeeBreak With The Word

The documentary was a sad story of fraud, one man’s choices that turned the lives of dozens of families upside down. I was moved with compassion, at first, for the woman who was the catalyst for legal action on behalf of those who shared her losses. But, as the story continued, I saw her sorrow […]

Most of us profess that we want to be with people who are ‘just who they are,’ who are real but, at the same time we are tempted to create an image.  We can look good on in our social media, posting images that catch us in our best moments. It’s a sad line that […]

I can point you to a short-cut to misery – start comparing your life to others!  In a matter of moments the sunshine will dim, your clothes will turn into rags, your car will be too old … any blessing you may enjoy will be forgotten. Envy is part of human psychology and reaches across […]

My son, Sean, is in Uganda with a missions team for a couple of weeks. His note yesterday said  “Church is just different with those that have nothing … God just kinda crushes you with the spirit of reckless abandon they show up with. Such joy.”  His words kept echoing around in my head for […]

So sure that the course of action was a mistake, I fussed angrily. I predicted that the decision would produce terrible results.  Later I looked at the situation and declared – “I was wrong!”  Wonder of wonder, when I admitted that I had misjudged terribly, I felt great freedom, no longer feeling any need to […]

Who likes ‘discipline?’ I am not talking about the kind that parents bring to their children. The discipline of which I write is about controlling how we eat, how we spend our resources, where we allow our mind to dwell, and how we use our time.   One of the persistent myths among us is […]

Jerry has authority issues. I park outside the lines, drive a bit above the speed limit, and push the boundaries of social propriety. Strangely, though I resist rules, I am also a person who loves order, who keeps a calendar, shows up on time, and likes it when others do their job as expected. Complex, […]

I am tired… of endless conflict, of one-sided conversations, of simplistic thinking that fails to wrestle with the real complexity of life, of hatred.  We are subjected to those who stir our deepest fears with the aim of gaining control over us. Politicians do it. Preachers do it, too.  I think you know this but […]

It is a common question – “How are you?”  We don’t always ask it sincerely, do we?  How refreshing when we know that a friend is actually interested in how we are doing, in listening to our heartbeat, sharing our joys, our disappointments, our fears, and our victories!  So, how are you?  Perhaps you are […]

When I walk the aisles of the local supermarket, shopping for my weekly groceries and household items, I often reflect on the abundance that surrounds me with gratitude. One long aisle contains dozens of varieties of snack items. Another holds 14 kinds of pastas of various shapes.  Beautiful fresh produce fills the front of the […]