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With the holiday weekend ahead of me, I made plans.  Big plans. Actually the project wasn’t that big — just repainting the columns on the front porch and a little touch-up around the garage and back patio.  But it seemed big because . . . I didn’t want to do it.  And because we didn’t [...]

Special night last week at church.  I just didn’t understand before I arrived, how special it was. Over the past year, our church leadership has been committed to the joyous task of coming together to talk and pray about far-reaching things.  No, we don’t spend time on facilities and Bible school curriculum and the like.  [...]

I was fascinated by Bill Bryson’s book, “A Short History of Nearly Everything.”  Bridging topics from alchemistry to volcanoes, Bryson spun an entertaining story of scientific discovery, natural oddities, and the often humorous ways that men and women have stumbled through the ages. What I was most taken by was the ever-more-apparent thought that the complexity of [...]

So, three weeks ago I took a Monday off after working a church leadership retreat over the weekend.  I needed the day to catch up on personal business that I ordinarily would have done on the previous Saturday.  One of the things on my list that day was to write a new blog post — continuing [...]

I’ve always wanted to write authoritatively about that phrase, “cost-benefit analysis.”  There are other phrases, too, of course, like gifted banjo player, best-selling author, sought-after inspirational speaker, and retired sky-diver.  All have a common element — I haven’t really invested much time or energy into any of them.  I’ve picked a little at the banjo.  [...]

“Wouldn’t it feel good to be able to be close to your brother again?  To leave all of the baggage of the past?  To celebrate the great memories?  To plan important futures?” She shifted uncomfortably in her chair and instinctively picked up her car keys, signaling her imminent departure.  I let my questions hover.  Finally, [...]

Having recently posted something that drew the criticism of some of my readers — all of whom responded with great civility by reply and by private email, I might add — I recalled that some time late last year, I promised to share my thoughts on my faith. I had this recollection because I remembered the value [...]

I have watched closely over the past week as the final moments of legislative process led to the passing of a new health care bill.  If you have hope that what I’m about to say will enlighten you whether or not this bill is a good one, I’m going to disappoint you. Instead, I want [...]

I’ve been accused of not listening.  Actually, I’ve been convicted of the charge. And my “not listening” is not confined to what the weatherman just said about the forecast or the announcement blared out over the plane intercom.  Nor is it limited to those vital moments in a television show or football game when I [...]

“Isn’t that God’s job?” I forget who said it. But I do recall that I had just finished a rather detailed explanation about what I was going to do to handle a truly difficult matter.  The speaker then very kindly shared her thoughts about how God takes care of things.  “You can help,” she said. [...]

I had the house to myself.  The football game was a plausible excuse to be doing nothing.  The sun had just pulled below the western horizon and the Christmas lights had responded on cue from the timer whirring on the front porch. I heard a car door shut in front of the house and moments [...]

For some time now, Nancy and I have frequented a little pizza place here in Abilene.  I know everyone’s tastes differ when it comes to pizza.  Some like New York style, some Chicago, and some Roma, I suppose.  I’m not sure what style this small establishment claims, but I’d say it’s my style.  Sure, I [...]

I’ve been thinking about peace a lot lately.  Personal peace.  Relational peace. Political peace.  World peace. So it wouldn’t be surprising that I stopped what I was doing to watch a short news clip this morning that featured an “anti-war mom” out with a megaphone in front of a military installation.  I had the sound [...]

As I gaze out the window of my oft-times harried life, it seems to me that I often see the same landscapes.  Over and over again.  And planted in those larger scenes are the faces I’ve seen before with voices echoing the same messages I’ve heard before. Face pressed against the window pane of my [...]

I’m studying this week.  Not my usual book readings and journaling. I’m studying in an “immersion” week.  Intensive sessions.  Homework at night. A diversity of classmates. The subject matter is fascinating.  Theories from the sciences reinforce things we believed but never really knew.  Emerging research adds to the weight.  This particular line of thinking has [...]

I’m spending time with a group of individuals who are asking questions.  Not the demanding, investigative-type of questions.  More of the shades of wonder-type questions. I’ve been in other groups (though not for very long) that have asked questions, too.  Invariably, their questions center on the mistakes of the past.  “Why didn’t we see that [...]

“I’ve just about had enough.” A phrase most often coupled by parents with “Don’t make me come back there.” Some how, some way, we all want to set boundaries on what we can live with.  And often, we want to back that up with some promise of force or other action if any one is [...]

On her way to pick-up our granddaughter, Landrye, from KidsQuest Day Camp today, Nancy stopped and bought two balloons — a black one and a white one. With Landrye right beside her, she made her way to the foot of the majestic and moving sculpture, Jacob’s Dream.  Towering high above, Jacob’s ladder to heaven is filled [...]

I don’t get as many letters from credit card companies as I used to.  You see, a little over a year ago, heeding the dire warnings of those who guarantee to protect me from identity bandits, I signed up with a service that monitors my credit accounts and warns me if some dastardly persons are [...]