Expect the Unknown David Perkins, a retired U.S. four-star general, once said, “We should expect the unknown . . .” We’ve heard versions of that quote before: Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for the unknown. But is this really possible? If we expect the unexpected,...
Cancel Culture - the Good and the Bad I don’t like what you said, so you should be fired from your job, run out town, and shamed into isolation. Cancel culture has moved us far from reasonable discussions about differing opinions. If someone doesn’t like what...
Shifting to an Eternal Perspective When I was a child, I often heard older people speak of heaven with a sense of familiarity. I marveled that they could talk of a place they had never seen, yet speak with such joy and intimacy. I came to realize their growing desire...
Apparent Contradictions Have you noticed how often God appears to be a God of apparent contradictions? Think about it . . . He is Yahweh, the God of the universe who is the self-sufficient “I AM” (Genesis 3:14). Yet He revealed this name to Moses for the...
Handling Disappointment The year 2020 started with such potential. New year. New possibilities. To say it has been a disappointment is an understatement! Many of us are battered and bruised by canceled plans, health issues, financial pressures, isolation, and...
Whatever Happened to Empathy? I never thought of myself as especially empathetic. Yet even I am dismayed at the lack of empathy exhibited in our culture, on the news, and especially on social media. Empathy has been defined as the ability to understand and feel...
Anniversary Reaction I may forget where I placed my eyeglasses (and yes, it’s possible they’re on my head). I may forget what I ate for breakfast (but I probably didn’t forget to eat!). And I may forget your birthday (even though it’s written on my calendar)....
What’s the Purpose of Freedom? “Land of the free and home of the brave.” We sing it as part of our national anthem. We’re free! But what does that actually mean? Just how free are we? We have freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly. We’re free to bear...
Find and Do the Next Right Thing I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Peter. Peter: the impulsive, well-meaning disciple who wanted to do the right thing. Unfortunately, his propensity for putting his foot in his mouth often got in the way. I know...
Grace Givers I’ve been thinking lately about stewardship. That’s not a word we hear very often anymore. It’s one of those words that seems to have fallen out of favor. Most people haven’t noticed. But maybe we should notice. A steward is someone who has the...
A Christmas Carol Message: “Silent Night” The quintessential Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” has an...
Christmas Carol: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” When I think of Christmas carols, I think of joy. Celebration....
Gratitude Prompts There’s a saying traveling the internet these days that goes something like this: “What if...