It is not hard for me to remember when the opinions of others started to matter to me. It began when I was a typical boy growing up in the ’50s. Converse Allstar sneakers came out, and all my friends wore a pair. You know, the black canvas high tops with the ball on the […]
Everybody goes through wounding experiences in life – especially those who are in ministry. Whether these wounds are physical, spiritual, emotional, or relational, they’re either in your life now or they’re coming. So, what should we do when we’re wounded? Worship! It’s the only antidote I have found to that kind of pain. Job is […]
Calendars, scheduled holidays and observances can diminish a sweet reverence for life by reminding us that each day that passes is the anniversary or observance of some perfectly uninteresting event. Did you know that today (January 16th) is “Appreciate a Dragon Day” and “National Nothing Day”? (I’m not making this up) Humankind has become the […]
On December 11th of this year, my bride Nancy and I were privileged to see The Christmas Story at Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster. We have seen every production they put on in the last thirty years. The quality and professionalism is right up there with anything I’ve seen on Broadway. The Christmas Story […]
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7 CEB) My bride Nancy and I are celebrating our […]
In just a few days we will celebrate a national holiday we call Thanksgiving. I always loved this observance. In some respects, I like it just as much if not a little more than Christmas, only because the emphasis is upon family, feasting together, and taking time to acknowledge how blessed we really are. As […]
Change. We are all familiar with it. Some of us adapt, some of us don’t. When you live to be almost seventy years of age as I have, you have experienced many changes. I have had a passion for music for as long as I can remember. I remember in the early sixties when I […]
Have you ever endured circumstances that tempted you to wonder “Where is God in all of this?” I know I have. At my age, there have been many, but a few seem to stand out in my mind. There was this time during the summer of 1962 when, as a 12-year-old boy I realized that […]
We learn about “tests” at an early age. When the teacher announces that there will be a test in today’s class, most of the students experience an increased heartbeat and a sweaty brow? Why? Because they fear they are not adequately prepared and incapable of earning a good grade. I hated tests when I was […]
Since reaching the age of 69 just a few days ago, I have a confession to make: I am well-acquainted with failure. Whether it is the smaller, somewhat trivial versions of failure or the kind that results in a lot of pain, I have known them all. I may even be bold enough to say […]