Ever hear someone refer to God as a crutch? Something only weak people need to lean on to get through life? I’ve always found that argument irrational, all the more so when promoted by people who practically worship rationality. It implies that weakness is the...
Remember the song, “Tall Oaks from Acorns Grow”? It’s a cute children’s song—one I hadn’t thought of in decades…until I began catching up on long overdue yardwork. For the past 2 years, circumstances have caused me to neglect our yard. Shrubs grew wild and leggy....
Been thinking about labels lately. How we assign them to ourselves and to others. Of all the seasons of my life, junior high school was the most painful. Labels ruled and cliques reigned. You were labeled if you belonged to a group and labeled if you didn’t. Smart....
One of my favorite memories is that of my mother reading to me from a book of fairy tales. Cinderella, Ali Baba, Sleeping Beauty, and other characters came to life through the sound of her voice. As I listened to their adventures, each character seemed as real as any...
It’s hurricane season in Florida. With every new tropical disturbance identified in the Atlantic Ocean, Florida residents play the “What if?” game. What if a hurricane strikes us again? What if we experience similar flooding to the Carolinas? And the what-ifs extend...
Dandelions—the bane of many homeowners who strive for manicured lawns. Adults see them as an irritation. A nuisance. But children see dandelions as a source of unlimited potential. Wishes, hopes, and dreams wrapped up in the seeds of a wild flower. When you were a...
Life happens…although not always the way we want it to. Sometimes we’re surprised by amazing events beyond our wildest expectations. Other times, we’re blindsided by our worst nightmares come true. When that happens, do you get mad at God? After all, He’s sovereign,...
The Labor Day holiday weekend is coming. Ironically, it’s a holiday we celebrate by avoiding what we’re celebrating. We celebrate labor by not working. This holiday reminds us there’s a time to work…and a time not to work. And that applies to our Christian life, too....
Our days are numbered. That sounds so ominous, doesn’t it? Or maybe it sounds like cheesy dialogue in a B movie: “Your days are numbered, pal.” But think about it. This earthly body doesn’t last forever. And it would seem way too senseless if the measure of our life...
One of my favorite phrases in the Bible is “but God.” The phrase is peppered throughout Scripture. And it makes my heart smile every time I come across one of those verses. They bring a vertical perspective to my horizontal circumstances. They remind me that my...
A Heart for Hospitality: Bless or Impress? The articles and blog posts are already flooding magazines and websites....
Bearing Each Other’s Burdens Without Enabling The season of giving has begun. Giving thanks. Giving gifts. And...
Care & Compassion in a Dog-Eat-Dog World “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you...