Over dinner last night the guests at my table shared their experience with a large religious group that claims to be “Christian.” That ‘church’ preaches strong family values, encourages morality and hard work, and builds tight-knit communities. But, the heart… Continue reading

Everything he said was ‘just right.’ His stories were impressive, too. On the surface, he looked like an amazing man; accomplished, of deep faith, a servant of the Lord. I wanted to trust him but I could detect that there… Continue reading

  When Bev and I were still raising our children we worked at making our home a place of wholeness and holiness. Does that sound overly pious to you? Before you conclude that ours was a joyless, gloomy house, let… Continue reading

The creator of the cartoon, “Peanuts,” featuring the hapless Charlie Brown, observed that “happiness is a warm puppy.” Who can’t feel a certain kind of pleasure when they hold a wiggly pup? But it is a passing kind of happy,… Continue reading

Few things equal the pleasure of just laughing out loud. When I get together with old friends and the stories start, so does the laughter. Our dumb choices, our silly kid tricks, our shared bumps and bruises are fertile soil… Continue reading

I did not live through the Great Depression of the 1930’s but the stories I read of massive unemployment, of poverty, of hunger are frightening! What hopelessness filled the land at that time. My parents were children during the Second… Continue reading

Our church is going to employ a person on the Pastoral staff. We advertised the position and received dozens of applications. Trying to discern who a person is by reading words on a page is no easy task. The standard… Continue reading

  This planet can be a big, lonely place.  It is not uncommon to awaken in the morning and wonder if any really cares about us, or if we are just a cog in the machine. Things happen that make… Continue reading

There is a story about catching monkeys using a coconut. Heard it?  A hole is cut in the side of the coconut which is then hollowed out. Food is placed inside and the coconut is then left where a monkey… Continue reading

While riding with a friend last week we were treated to a double rainbow after a rainstorm. I joked, “It must be a sign. What is God saying to us?”  Then, just as quickly, laughing I said, “Sure, it is… Continue reading