Fully Persuaded
Half-hearted. Unsure. Doubtful. Apathetic. Lukewarm. If you saw those words on someone’s resume, would you give a double thumbs up, saying, “YES! That’s exactly the profile for people I want on my team”? No! And similarly, God is looking for people who are “all in.” For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro …
Rest
We took off over a month from writing this blog due to unexpected changes in our lives. As is His style, God is working it all together for good. But my (Carrie’s) mom suddenly landed in the hospital in her home state. Within two whirlwind weeks (for which I flew there), she got a pacemaker …
Obéissance
A neighbor up the street added a new puppy–a cockapoo–to their family. She trained their pup to ring a bell when it needed to go to the bathroom. At first they positioned its paw or its nose to help it ring the bell at the door whenever it needed to go out. Eventually it learned …
There Is No “Try”
A memorable movie line spoken by the character Yoda in “The Empire Strikes Back” exhorts, “Try not! Do or do not, there is no try.” The apparent point was the statement—”I’ll try”—which conveys a lack of confidence and commitment, basically assuming failure before even making an attempt. In contrast, one of my dad’s many aphorisms …
Always Learning
Do you ever get annoyed when it turns out you were wrong? I find my assumptions, conclusions, and guesses to be wrong more often than I’d like. It’s humbling. In the business world, one “soft skill” employers like to see in a prospective employee is a willingness to learn. I’m sorry to say that for …
Here and Now
What have you been thinking about so far today? We seldom consider the path our minds take on a given day; we just get up and go. We’re often thinking about what’s ahead, and far too frequently those thoughts are laced with anxiety. How can we meet this need? How should we handle that challenging …
Resistance Training
My wife is a woman of vision. She has amazing spiritual insights, but she also carries a practical and aesthetic vision for rooms in our home. One place that’s been in development lately is our basement gym. Recent enhancements include two strong resistance bands, equipped with handles and ankle straps, that we clip onto wall-mounted …
Clean Slate
What does the name Thomas Edison bring to mind? Or Abraham Lincoln? How would you describe Walt Disney, Lucille Ball, or Michael Jordan? If you read their biographies, you’ll find they all had one thing in common—multiple failures! Yet when someone mentions a name like Oprah Winfrey, no one says, “Oh, you mean that woman …
A Sense of Wonder
A month ago, Carrie and I drove to a neighboring state to witness a natural occurrence of global renown. Every spring, a particular bird species descends in droves upon a small stretch of the Platte River in America’s midwest as they migrate north. Tour tickets in hand, we drove most of the day to get …
Promotion
Last year I found myself getting bored at work. I had been at the bottom of the totem pole in my department and was itching for a new challenge. But there didn’t appear to be any way up or out of that role. I had conversations with my manager (who is wonderful, by the way) …
The Elephant in The Room
In 1872, John Godfrey Saxe wrote a poem entitled The Blind Men and the Elephant in which six blind sages each describe their wildly divergent conclusions after encountering an elephant. The last two stanzas read: And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though …
Power Up!
Our state is known for unpredictable weather, perhaps because we live so close to the Rocky Mountains. The most recent weather adventure has been high winds, affecting utilities. Our lawn furniture was blown about and some branches fell. But the biggest surprise this blustery weekend was a church service without electricity. That meant no lights, …
A Dental Easter
Maybe because I just had two molar implants, I’ve got teeth on my mind. I even thought of a New Testament truth related to the dental world, in fact. But first, let’s talk teeth. When children reach the age of six they start to lose their baby teeth. Their original teeth get loose and fall …
Stop Kicking
Testifying to King Agrippa about his conversion to Christianity, the apostle Paul included an interesting phrase Jesus had spoken to him on the road to Damascus. Formerly known as Saul, this Jew was known for his zeal for the law and his intense hatred of Christians. We first hear of Saul watching the stoning of …
Creative Creator
One of our kids would point to my personality type as the culprit, but for whatever reason, I like to think outside the box. While all our kids are musically and/or artistically creative, I tend toward creative thoughts. I find myself asking why things are always done a certain way. It’s fun to come up …
To Be or Not To Be
JB and I met in a high school Spanish class. We students jokingly referred to our teacher as la bruja (the witch) even though she was the sweetest marshmallow of a Cuban lady you could ever hope to meet. And I honestly don’t remember much of what she taught us because I’ve had little reason …
Pacing
On a recent work trip to California, we visited the world-famous San Diego Zoo. With over 4,000 animals gracing its hundred-acre grounds, it’s the most visited zoo in the country. Its huge, open exhibits mimic the animals’ natural habitat— and comprise the largest and most remarkable living spaces we have seen at any zoo. Yet …
Word!
The first time I heard someone say it at work, I didn’t get it. It struck me as strange then and still does. Someone was talking in front of a group and my coworker called out, “Word!” I figured out by context he was voicing approval or agreement with what the speaker had expressed. Years …
Once
A little over a year ago, our daughter married a wonderful young man. They chose to have a small ceremony with mainly family in attendance. We celebrated with them and enjoyed watching their beaming faces during the reception. Couples prepare far in advance for their wedding day, choosing the church, the decorations, the bridal gown …
Earthly Treasures
People are different in so many ways. One distinction I recall was whether you were a people person, an idea person, or a thing person. I think I’m all three to varying degrees, but my wife would nod vigorously to my identifying as a thing person. For example, I would typically rather buy a thing …
Freedom
While living in South Florida over two decades ago, I often saw a bony-legged young woman briskly walking down long stretches of road. Her determined stride and gaunt appearance revealed her inner struggle. After moving to Colorado, I repeatedly noticed a tall, emaciated woman swiftly ambling down the path behind our house. She wore a …
Heart Songs!
On a business trip to Nashville a few months ago, Carrie and I had an interesting experience with a Lyft driver. As we’ve accustomed ourselves to using ride share apps to get around in other cities, we’ve noticed how different the drivers can be. Some say nothing, in some cases because they may speak little …
Christmas and Taxes?
Each December we usually hear the nativity account from Luke 2 read in church. It can become so familiar that we often don’t pay attention. This year, however, I suddenly realized something I had not thought about before. The first five verses explain that Caesar Augustus took a census, requiring Joseph and Mary (his betrothed) …
Christmas – More or Less
We’re having a different kind of Christmas this year. Part of it is because I caught Covid at the company holiday party right before Christmas and we’re isolating. It’s the first time ever for us not to gather at our house Christmas day. We’ll gather virtually with our kids, and in person when we’re well …
Christmas Cheer!
It’s the time of year for parties, food, and gifts galore! None of this relates to the original nativity… or does it? While we may go overboard, might we actually have the basics down for celebrating Christ’s birth? In the Old Testament, God established feasts, basically commanding the Jews to hold seven annual parties—many of …
Willfulness
Recently we stopped by Sam’s Club to replenish a few things we’d run out of. Always one with an eye for a good deal, JB spotted a sale on some lights we might use in landscaping our yard next spring. A woman on that same aisle noticed, and kindly warned, “Don’t buy them!” She went …
Lighthouse
As I stood in church recently during the worship time, I noticed someone repeatedly turning left and right with her hands raised as she sang. The combination of her posture and rotating movement reminded me of a lighthouse. The US National Ocean Service says that lighthouses serve “to warn mariners of dangerous shallows and perilous …
Crushing Leaves
It’s late November and most of the trees in our neighborhood have long been bereft of their leaves. As usual, the stubborn silver maple in our backyard has refused to relinquish its foliage, having reluctantly dropped only half. What has fallen, we’ve raked up twice in the past week, and both times we wondered where …
God’s Public Service Announcement
J.B. and I (and two of our kids—all in different departments) work at a company that distributes software to IT providers. We provide solutions to help small businesses track their inventory, backup their data, and work more efficiently. But a threat to them all, regardless of their industry or business model, is cyber attacks. We …
Misunderstandings
In middle school, I sometimes quoted a phrase I thought quite clever. “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!” How often do others misunderstand us? Whether due to our unclear choice of words or the hearer’s …
Catching Grace
Hoping for a turnaround to their dismal season start, I recently watched a Broncos football game. God sometimes shows me truth in unexpected places. In one particular play, I saw grace illustrated in football. When the quarterback throws the ball and his intended receiver catches it, that is not grace. That’s more like works. These …
Above It All
On a recent botanic garden visit, I noticed an aquatic insect inhabiting a water feature. But it wasn’t in the water, it was on top of the water. I recognized it as a water strider. These insects glide effortlessly across the water’s surface, but can also stand still or skip across it. They have water-repellent …
Be Prepared
Having four Boy Scouts in our family, we were well-acquainted with their motto: “Be prepared.” This slogan‘s wisdom hit home multiple times as we recently visited Leadville, Colorado, whose population once soared to over 50,000, but now boasts a mere 2,633. Leadville experienced an incredible but short-lived boom during the silver rush of the late …
The Door
A recent Saturday afforded me the opportunity to help at church by working on a couple of doors that were sticking and not opening or closing properly. The remedy involved rasping, filing, and sanding the edge of the doors so they would no longer strike the doorframe but instead would conform to the opening, easily …
Led by The Spirit
Last week as I exited airport security and reached the gates, I heard the last call for a flight to my hometown. Now my ticket was for a flight two hours later, but it occurred to me maybe I could get home earlier. I went to the counter and explained that I was booked on …
Joseph, Jesus, and You
The other night I attended a college production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. Having known nothing about the musical beforehand, I was surprised and delighted by each new scene and song. It also got me thinking about Joseph himself–and how we, as believers, can relate to him. Ultimately, Joseph is an Old Testament …
A Well-Watered Garden
Carrie and I just returned from Nashville, where I was attending a conference for work. The venue was unusual to say the least. It featured nine acres of indoor gardens, replete with a winding river, cascading waterfalls, and 6,000 tropical plants including more than 200 different species! All the greenery and the sound of the …
What To Wear
We have had the opportunity to travel more this year—partly due to work—than in recent years. And one thing I tend to notice is what people wear, especially when it differs from what I typically see in Denver. First, I notice the travel apparel. When I was a kid in the 1960s, people dressed up …
Canaries
Sometimes when JB’s sister goes on a trip, we bird sit for her. She has owned canaries for the past few years, lovely yellow songbirds that entertain and intrigue me. Having known nothing about birds before, I’ve learned some lessons from them. Historically, Spanish sailors brought canaries from the Canary Islands to Europe, and they …
Sizzle or Substance
We just returned from a trip to Las Vegas on business. That place is bright! While some casinos have started using more solar energy, a recent report indicated the Las Vegas Strip consumes 8,000 megawatts of electricity per day. At .18 per kilowatt, that would cost over $1.4 million daily! But before you start feeling …
Hummingbirds
At times on walks around the neighborhood we hear the sound of a hummingbird. Our area is home to the broad-tailed hummingbird, the male of which makes a unique trilling noise while in flight. On rare occasions we might spot the bird feeding on flowers or resting on a branch. But more often we only …
Instant On
In the mid 90s, I attended Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Engineering conference (WinHec). Bill Gates spoke in person and I recall his talking about an initiative to make computers start up much faster than they did at the time. It usually took several minutes to get a PC up and running after flipping the switch, and …
Victory over Temptation
Last week I had a bone density test due to my doctor’s insistence. Before starting the test, the technician weighed me, and I was shocked and alarmed to hear that I weighed almost ten pounds more than I thought I did. For years I had not weighed myself because it had become a frustrating and …
Moonrise
There’s a scene in one of my favorite old movies, Joe vs the Volcano, where the main character is on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after his ship sank. It’s nighttime and having gone without food or water, he seems on the verge of death. As a huge full moon rises …
Time for You!
For the next quarter at work, my small department plans to conduct an experiment. Since our jobs are often reactive in nature, we tend to handle individual tasks upon notification of assignment, prompting frequent interruptions. Research indicates it’s inefficient to switch one’s attention between tasks, and with requests coming from multiple higher-ups, it gets stressful …
Office Space
Occasionally I’ll have a dream from which I almost awaken laughing, and I had one of those last night. I saw a series of business offices. In the first, a man was gesticulating with his arms to emphasize the spaciousness of his office. Another, during a meeting with a visitor, showed off the size of …
Gifted
As we waited to board a flight a couple of months ago, I noticed that the airline employee giving intercom boarding announcements at the gate was unusually articulate. She was so good, she sounded like she could have been on the radio! As is my habit whenever possible, I complimented her on her obvious talent. …
Guilt and Shame
Years ago, a cartoon pictured a psychologist telling a patient, “Mr. Figby, I think I can explain your feelings of guilt. You’re guilty!” Like it or not, we’re all guilty. According to Romans 3:23, All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We don’t need to refer to the Ten Commandments to …
Life and Breath
Gasping for air, I frantically circled the business meeting room, trying to say, “I can’t breathe!” But no sound came out, and as hard as I tried to inhale, no air was coming in. It was terrifying and I didn’t know what to do. And then I woke up in my pitch-black bedroom and realized …
With Us
One usually associates Jesus’s alternate title of Immanuel (or Emmanuel) with Christmas, but the word means “God with us.” Isaiah prophesied of the One who came to restore humanity’s relationship with God: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will …
Don’t Be Road Kill
A couple of times while driving recently I’ve encountered a squirrel running out on the road, right into my lane. As I approached and was only a car-length away, both times the rodent stopped, took a few steps in one direction, then turned in another, at which point the car was almost on top of …
Close at Hand
I grew up with a loving mom who made her faith in God central to her life. Once when very young, maybe 6 or 7, I remember seeing her curled up in her prayer chair early in the morning with her Bible. I recall once sitting in a chair opposite her, awkwardly wrapping my arms …
Sunsets and Waves
Psalm 65:8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 46:10 “Cease striving and know that …
Breathe
After home group recently, I mentioned to my friend, DeeDee, having had some work-related stress and she asked, “Are you remembering to breathe?” (Meaning, was I paying attention to how I was breathing?) Was it unconscious short, shallow breaths of the anxious, busy, and preoccupied, or was it deliberate, deeper breathing— bringing a sense of …
One Constant
It’s time for March weather: In like a lion and out like a lamb– or so they taught me in elementary school. In line with its predisposition toward unexpected changes, Colorado’s weather always keeps people guessing, and not just in March. One past September, Denver temperatures reached 102 over Labor Day weekend, and we woke …
Making Room
My wife and I are different, which is a very good thing. She likes a room to have… well, room. While I have often seen space as something to fill with stuff, Carrie finds “open and airy” peaceful and refreshing, and she disdains clutter. In my hurry I sometimes lay an object down in a …
Twisting the Truth
I receive weekly notices from an online neighborhood forum. These include anything from owners searching for lost dogs to people looking for a good dentist. But sometimes neighbors warn others about scams. Examples abound, but scammers often use a recent event (natural disasters, political turmoil, or social causes) to to tug on heart strings. While …
Is Your Candle Lit?
When we were all shut inside for Covid, I took to writing poetry. Here’s a poem I penned in November of 2020, which I’ll use to launch today’s post: The Candle A gift I once opened had a candle inside. With what rich, layered hues was this wax beautified! And it came with a wick …
Enamored with the Box
Last year our trusty, 30-year-old chest freezer finally gave up the ghost. We bought a smaller upright freezer—which came in a large cardboard box. Instead of tossing the box, we decided to rest it on its side and see if our grandson might enjoy playing in it. Sure enough, it was a big hit! At …
Everlasting
My father-in-law was in the Navy, so my wife moved several times growing up. Where we live now is the longest she has ever lived anywhere. And I suppose that’s true for me as well. A former military couple we know moved their family about twenty times in as many years. Apparently one of their …
Truth and Love
One day Jesus led his disciples through Samaria, a route these young men would have otherwise avoided. In their generations-old hostility toward Samaritans (half-breeds whose worship practices defied God’s law) the Jews prided themselves on being “right.” While Jesus rested beside a well, He sent the disciples to purchase some food. They returned later, appalled …
Cookie Dough
One year before Christmas my daughters and I made Christmas cookies–LOTS of cookies! I have no idea what came over me but I felt compelled. For the spritz cookies, we used a cookie press, enabling us to create little shapes and designs with the dough. One nice thing about working with that particular dough was …
Know Your Benefits
At the end of last December I found myself scheduling time off I hadn’t managed to fit in during the year. My company offers paid time off on a use it or lose it basis. Since a benefit like that is part of my overall compensation, I would be foolish to ignore it. David often …
Yes, Coach!
From an early age I swam competitively. In high school I swam on a city AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team as well as with my high school’s team. That AAU coach was a stickler for form. We watched underwater footage of Mark Spitz swimming, and the coach would point out little nuances the Olympic gold …
A Sparrow for Your Thoughts
Noticing little birds enjoying our bird feeder this morning, I recalled the old song “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Its reassuring refrain comforts us with certainty that if God’s eye is on the common sparrow, He will surely watch over us. The thought originates from Matthew 10:29. “Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a …
No Christmas Confusion
A series of children’s books featured Amelia Bedelia, a maid who consistently misinterpreted directions (with disastrous results) dismaying her employers. She took every directive literally: planting lightbulbs (instead of flower bulbs) in pots, cutting holes in a polka-dot dress to “remove the spots,” and tying expensive cuts of meat in the garden to “stake the …
The Full Package
A recent article about our state’s professional football team highlighted their distinction of having the best defense in the league… and the worst offense! In one game alone, we saw their quarterback get sacked six times and hit eighteen times! It takes more than a good defense to win a football game; somebody’s got to …
Winning Ingredients
Years ago I developed a taste for plain yogurt for breakfast. I mix things with it, but like the taste and the fact that it’s not loaded with added sugar. Since Carrie figured out how to make it from milk and starter yogurt in a crock pot, we’ve been making our own. All it takes …
Asking the Wrong Question
In The Adventure of Silver Blaze, a Sherlock Holmes short story, the famous detective was drawn to a “curious incident”—a silent dog. This fact, unobserved by everyone else, unlocked the mystery of a missing racehorse. The others’ wrong questions, and the ensuing wrong answers, had resulted in the arrest of an innocent man, and it …
New Life
The past week offered a study in contrasts. It began with our nephew’s photo welcoming his new baby son into the world and ended with old friends bidding their youngest son goodbye in the wake of a tragic accident. Both scenes occurred in local hospitals, but the accompanying emotions could not have been further apart. …
A Kind Word
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up (Proverbs 12:25). One day I messaged a coworker and just asked how she was doing. She said it made her day—just that I asked! That stuck out to me. And while it is easy to get wrapped up with myself, I have since …
The Cost of Complacency
A couple of years ago I noticed some crabgrass in my backyard. I’ve always been diligent to uproot it when it appeared in my front lawn. But for some reason I ignored this little patch that popped up out back. It had emerged in a place that was stressed by relentless hours of sun each …
Better Reception
In my characteristic outside-the-box thinking, I recently suggested, “Let’s get rid of some furniture and put a ping-pong table in the living room.” So we did! But that meant also converting the dining room into a TV room. (Welcome to my unconventional world!) We reconfigured the TV and antenna, having dropped cable years ago. Since …
Outsource It!
The writer of a business book popular some years ago urged readers to consider hiring virtual assistants to offload tedious tasks and save time. In one amusing section, he recognized his preoccupation with anxious thoughts over a particular situation. Seeking to free his mind for other tasks, he contacted his virtual assistant and instructed her …
Why Wait?
What are you good at? My soon-to-be-married daughter recently asked me to address her wedding invitations. I’ve hand-lettered since I was twelve and once ran a calligraphy business, so I told her, “Of course!” You confidently say “Yes” when asked to perform tasks at which you excel. But what if God asks you to act …
The Importance of Beginnings
Many of the earliest stories we hear start with, “Once upon a time…” From there the author paints the setting and introduces the characters. Schools offer classes such as America History: 1492-1865 or AP World History. We tell stories and histories to our kids chronologically so they can understand the sequence of events. In a …
Unchanging
Growing up with a dad who was a research scientist and chemical engineer, I occasionally found things in our garage one wouldn’t consider a standard household item. One of these was a little jar of silver fluid curiously heavy for its size. I recall playing with it and pouring some of it in my hand. …
Bring Your Whole Self
Still somewhat in summer vacation mode, I recently pondered seating on planes. Some discount airlines require you to pay extra to choose your seat. The rest get assigned a seat at random. But whether you pay for your seat or choose to be subject to the airline’s whim, they allow all sorts of people on …
Lift
A few times a year I fly to visit my mom in another state. Everyone on the plane takes it for granted that the plane will leave the ground at the end of the runway. None of us doubt that the law of lift will defy the law of gravity. Scientists such as Cayley, Bernoulli, …
No Fear
In the midst of uncertain times, there is always opportunity for alarm. The economy appears to be at risk, and you learn a coworker was just let go. Your next thought may naturally be, “Am I next?” The unrestrained mind can race far down a negative path in an instant. Before you know it, you’ve …
If the Shoe Fits
Never having been a coffee drinker, I don’t tend to meet up with people for java. My favorite way to connect with another guy is to go for a walk on a trail. One friend I enjoy walking with told me he recently got some new walking shoes that make him feel like he’s gliding. I …
Guilty or Condemned?
Decades ago, I sang in our high school’s choral group. One evening I drove two other members to a nursing home where we would sing. None of us had been there before and (as this was in the 70’s) we only had written instructions—no Siri or cell phones. I had a terrible sense of direction …
A Well-Watered Garden
A new internet company laid fiber optic cable in our neighborhood last winter, digging deep holes for junction boxes between every home. They eventually came back and patched the grass they’d dug up with new sod around the junction access lids. Walking through our neighborhood this summer, I noticed many of these nicely laid pieces …
Dungeons and Dragons
In the 1970s the world was introduced to the game Dungeons and Dragons. In this (sometimes addictive) role-playing game, each player takes on the persona of an imaginary character, interacting with other characters in various situations, with the goal of gaining power over obstacles and others in a fantasy world. Never having played it myself, …
No Obligation
There are some things you just have to do. You don’t necessarily do them because you want to, but because you know you should, or you somehow feel obligated. Websters defines obligation using words like duty, responsibility, and demands of conscience or custom. Maybe you made a promise, or you were committed by someone else, …
Listen Well . . . But Choose Wisely
As newlyweds we lived in a third-floor apartment. One floor below us lived a fellow who liked to play an electric guitar which boomed through the walls and floor, posing a definite distraction. It was one of those features of sharing a roof that made us eager to buy a house, a feat we we thankfully achieved …
Keeping the Law
The longer I live, the less inclined I am to delve into politics. Too often to my eyes and ears politicians spend most of their time patting themselves on the back and sounding like the “Wah, wah, wah…” of Charlie Brown’s cartoon teacher. I do, however, get excited thinking about law–God’s law, that is–and why …
Surrounded!
“Put your hands up! We’ve got you surrounded!” These words, familiar in films, usually indicate the end of a struggle, a prelude to surrender, where one side has overcome the other. They typically signal victory for one and decisive defeat for the other. And in those where the protagonists find themselves surrounded and the enemy …
Gazing at Clouds
For whatever reason two little sayings I learned from my dad’s Navy days have stuck with me. The first told the proper way to eat soup! “As little ships sail out to sea, I dip my spoon away from me!” The second explained how sailors used the skies to inform their plans. “Red sky at …
Roots and Shoots
Last weekend I noticed tall grass growing in a garden where it did not belong, along with an abundance of field bindweed. This noxious and invasive weed is one of the worst in our area, inextricably wrapping itself around adjacent plants like a python capturing prey. I try to pull it up before its flowers …
In Person
We recently traveled to Washington, D.C., embarking on a whirlwind, self-directed tour. I vaguely recalled field trips there as an elementary student, but enjoyed the visit much more as an adult. An unseasonable heat wave did not deter us from walking miles, up and down the National Mall, impressed and amazed. Seeing photos in books …
Like a Child
The gospels tell us we must become like little children to enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15). Little children tend to be simple and unpretentious; they believe easily. They possess an insatiable curiosity about the world around them and like to try new things. As some of us get older, though, those childlike qualities …
Peacocks
We live near a small historical museum with a working farm and costumed volunteers who act as citizens from the late 1800s. Visitors get to experience life in that era by walking through gardens, houses, and an old school house. Besides typical farm animals such as sheep, pigs, cows, and chickens, this museum includes wild …
Rewind
Close to the end of the film Galaxy Quest, the ship captain made a desperate decision to activate the mysterious Omega 13 device after a disastrous strike destroyed almost his entire crew. Nobody knew exactly what the Omega 13 would do. Some asserted it would collapse the universe in 13 seconds. Others theorized it would …
Help! You Need Somebody!
I recently finished tossing files related to an art business I owned years ago. My oldest son sometimes assisted me back then. I recall a time he and I were returning very late at night from an art show deep in the Rocky Mountains. Exhausted from selling all weekend (then hours of tear-down and packing …
Made New
God likes to show me things in the kitchen, probably because I am there so often! Last night I peered into the fridge and realized we had some aging hoagie rolls that had dried out. No one would want them for sandwiches. Then I opened a container of ricotta cheese that I had previously frozen …
Answer the Door
“How do You know me?” Nathanael had good reason to be perplexed; he’d never seen this guy before! Yet Jesus’s unexpected greeting indicated He not only knew Nathanael’s name, but also his character. When Jesus replied to his question with a supernatural word of knowledge, Nathanael responded in awe, “You are the Son of God!” …
Facts and Feelings
Recently we visited the Colorado Railroad Museum. We read about tremendous changes the railroad brought to society and commerce, as well as the eventual use of train travel for entertainment. The museum houses working and decommissioned locomotives, passenger cars, container cars, and cabooses. They even refurbish trains there–a job I never knew still existed. I …
A Right Turn
Driving somewhere unfamiliar recently, we decided to use GPS on my phone. We followed the verbal directions, making necessary lane changes just as instructed, but suddenly heard an unexpected change in our guide’s vocal infection. At a key intersection, the voice said, “Turn right?” as if she were suddenly unsure! How much confidence would you …
What Will You Wear?
Our youngest daughter (and sixth child) will graduate from college this spring. I remember helping her pack for her first semester. She debated about taking an old fleece jacket she’d gotten in middle school. We discussed the fact that college students wear college-emblazoned t-shirts and hoodies, no longer associating themselves with their pre-high school days. …
Intimacy with God
Have you ever wanted to feel closer to God? Ultimately that’s what everyone seeks, even if we obliviously look to something else to fill that void. People need love, and God is love. People need hope, and God is called the God of hope. Many don’t know that the peace they seek is a Person. …
Holiness
What circumstances trigger anxiety for you? During my school-aged years I got nervous hearing of an upcoming science test, of picking teams for softball in P.E., or that my coach wanted me to swim butterfly in an upcoming meet. (I find science challenging, hate seeing balls flying at me–plus I throw “like a girl,” and …
Unwavering Faith
I was thinking recently about friendship—the most basic underpinning of which is trust. Have you ever had someone you were close to—someone you’d been through a lot with–doubt you? If so, you probably found it hurtful. After all, friends don’t lie to each other—they’re people you can depend on. The thought occurred to me that …
Fear Extinguishers
I’d just stepped out of the shuttle upon arrival at Logan airport in Boston, my breath visible in the chill air and my mind still spinning after a stressful semester of college. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a distressed lady talking to a seasoned skycap as he tossed luggage onto a …
Tired of Running?
Recently I had this thought in the shower, “Fear kills productivity.” I recognized a fruitful life forsakes fear and all activity motivated by it. Fear doesn’t add a thing to our experience. In Matthew 6 Jesus noted anxiety never lengthens life. Neither does it contribute to quality of life. Fear is never a happy place; …
Adventure Awaits!
Sometimes we enjoy ending a busy work week with a relaxed dinner while streaming a movie. Recently I picked an apocalyptic film featuring a well-known actor (the only human in the cast) who scrapes by in the hostile aftermath of a solar flare that compromised earth’s atmospheric protection and destroyed all vegetation. He lived alone …
It Is the Lord!
I love John’s post-resurrection account where Peter and his buddies fished all night without success. At dawn, there stood Jesus on the beach. Perhaps He was just too far away to see clearly at that hour, but they didn’t know it was Jesus (despite seeing Him twice since He arose). Since neither Mary nor the …
No Time for Worry
Years ago JB had a book entitled Getting Things Done, by David Allen. At the time he shared the main idea with me, but neither of us pursued it. Now I’ve rediscovered that book and am a major fan. In it, the author argues that you should never dwell on the same thought twice unless …
Stations and Suitcases
Building on the truth discussed last week, that God has packed my suitcase as a believer with everything I need, how should I approach a new day? I get the chance to decide the second I wake up in the morning. Am I going to live it as a believer (which means putting faith in …
Well Equipped
We just got back from a trip last night. Not really a vacation; more like, “Well that was a trip!” We had planned fun days touring and hiking national parks in southern New Mexico and Texas. In spite of recent snow, bitter cold and iffy roads, we completed our journey’s first leg to Albuquerque. We …
Who Cares What You Think?
I like to be liked. It’s more enjoyable than not being liked, or worse, hated. And if I’m totally honest, I probably do things on occasion just to score likability points. A bad motivation, I know. But such insecurity is just one more reason I needed a Savior! Speaking of Whom, Jesus was quite the …
All God Ever Wanted
The other night we watched a movie in which someone challenged the main character to “Prove it!” This skeptical attitude can pop up not only in our interactions with other people, but also with God. The Bible teaches that God loves us and wants to be with us, yet something inside us says, “Prove it!” …
Two Things
Over many years I became used to my lovely wife turning to me after having thought about matters for a long time, saying, “Two things.” Then she would enlighten me with her insightful thoughts or frighten me with her crazy ideas. It got to where I would put up two fingers when she said it. …
Made Whole
This morning I took a large drinking glass from our kitchen cabinet. It holds almost a quart and I try to drink at least three glassfuls of water a day to stay hydrated. Thirsty after my morning workout, I turned on the faucet…but my glass wasn’t getting full. I suddenly realized that a stream of …
Anticipating Triumph
I recently read Acts 18:9-10 about Paul’s trip to Corinth. And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have …
Thanksgiving
Years ago we picked up a Thanksgiving tradition at a church we attended that our family observed for years. We’d set two containers on the table—an empty cylindrical glass vase, and a bowlful of dry corn. Family members took turns announcing something they were grateful for as they dropped a kernel of corn into the …
Find Your Creativity
After having been a “household executive” for over three decades, I started looking for a job. Entering this new season required new information, and that meant research. I found various online assessments to help narrow down the type of job I might find most suitable. One test began with this question: Are you a thing …
Seasons
I had the unexpected surprise when I awoke this past Sunday of finding the time had changed and we’d gained an hour. As I looked out the window, I saw further evidence of the change in season. Some trees had dropped their leaves, while the one in our back yard, always about a month behind …
Weighing the Evidence
Around the time our third son joined the family, a dear church friend started a preschool for a small group of children, including our oldest son. Debbie used all sorts of creative tools and techniques to challenge these bright youngsters. One day she showed them a photograph of a recent earthquake, asking what they thought …
Pouring Out
A few years ago, Carrie bought me a rain barrel. She figured, “We water plants in the back yard all summer, so why not collect some of the rainfall and save a little on the water bill?” We’ve enjoyed many free gallons of water from that rain barrel. But in our semi-arid climate, it doesn’t …
Your First Defense
When I was fifteen years old, I did a science fair project called The Third Line of Defense, referring to the invader-specific antibodies of the immune system. I found immunology fascinating, and reading medical textbooks as a teenager, thought I would later become a doctor like my oldest sister. She had dedicated herself to the …
Just Like the Carpenter
A few months ago our brother-in-law (married to one of JB’s sisters) stopped in for a few days during a cross-country trek. A retired Navy helicopter pilot and former aircraft carrier commanding officer, he now volunteers many hours building houses with Habitat for Humanity. Looking around our place he asked if we needed help with …
Authenticity
Years ago, our oldest son’s teacher asked students to answer the question, “What makes you unique?” Staring at that blank sheet of paper I would have felt compelled to write a lengthy paragraph listing numerous distinctives, hoping to impress the teacher with my thoughts. In contrast, and despite turning in a nearly blank page, Jeremy …
Popcorn!
When I worked at an insurance company before the pandemic, our branch manager liked to offer snacks as a small token of her appreciation for the employees. Hence, every other Friday we pulled out an old-fashioned popcorn popper. The fragrance it produced wafted through the air, eliciting enthusiastic comments across the office. Looking back, I …
Getting Older and Growing Up
Some days I’m acutely aware that I’m not twenty-something anymore. The last time I helped someone move (and I do mean the last time, God willing!) I was the self-appointed packer, doing the Tetris thing, filling a U-Haul truck from floor to ceiling. I’d stood far too long precariously perched atop stacked possessions, awkwardly twisting …
The Bear Necessities
My son Josh and I just returned this week from a wonderful time visiting a couple of our western national parks. We camped in a tent in Yellowstone for six nights, and marveled at steaming thermal springs and mud pots, conical and fountain geysers, torrential waterfalls and prismatic hot springs encircled by a breathtaking rainbow …
Goodness and Mercy
Growing up I used to say this prayer before meals: “God is great; God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.” (I always recited it in a 4/4 rhythm with Ah-men as the last two beats.) Little did I know that I was speaking one of the greatest truths in the universe …
Three Kings
If you were a king, what kind of legacy would you leave? I and II Chronicles follows the sad, roller coaster account of Judah’s rulers. Comparing the first three is enlightening. King Saul wowed the citizens with his height and good looks. Relying on his outward appearance he lacked inner strength. In reality, he was …
Elephants
The largest land animals, elephants are amazing creatures. They can carry the equivalent weight of over 100 human adults. Their powerful trunks can uproot trees or hold up to four gallons of water at a time. Their sense of smell is over 100 times greater than a dog’s. They only sleep 2-3 hours a day. …
Breath of Fresh Air
I smoked a few cigarettes this past weekend without even knowing it. That’s when Denver earned the dubious honor of the worst air quality of any large city in the world. Wasn’t even our pollution—smoke from fires in California and Oregon just settled here. Air experts cautioned against outdoor exercise, saying a day outside would …
Gideon and Grace
I was quietly minding my own business (as any introverted college freshman girl would), checking my school mailbox, when someone suddenly rushed from behind and tickled both sides of my ribs. Surprised, I turned around only to see another shocked face–an upperclassman who’d intended to play a joke on his friend! Seeing my bewilderment at …
Awake and Alert
Last week’s post highlighted the battle for our attention in a frenetic, information-saturated culture. Like the drone of a fan or the roar of a river puts us to sleep physically, the seemingly infinite stream of data coming at us can lull our minds into slumber. I like this quote from the movie Joe vs …
Wake Up and Pay Attention!
One 90s movie we’ve enjoyed, Sister Act 2, includes a choral instructor‘s challenge to a disengaged group of high school music students: “If you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere, you’d better wake up and pay attention!” One might easily recall the line after watching the film because a student immediately …
History Lesson
In a twist on the famous quote, Desmond Tutu once said, “We learn from history that we don’t learn from history!” In other words, humans keep making the same mistakes. A recent reading in 2 Chronicles highlighted this truth for me. After King Solomon’s death, Israel divided into two separate entities, the southern and northern …
Beyond Time
I recently had a cyst removed from my jawbone. The oral surgery took less than an hour, and I woke from the general anesthesia surprised at how swiftly those sixty minutes went by. My sense of time differed from the doctor’s because he was conscious of its passing while I was not. We travel through …
Our Source of Strength
I remember as a teenager watching Soviet Olympic weightlifter Vasily Alexeev set a new world record lifting over five hundred pounds in the clean and jerk. Reported to have eaten 26 fried eggs and a steak for breakfast before a competition, Vasily set 80 world records and reigned undefeated for eight years. Feats of strength …
In Good Time
Whether it’s losing weight, saving money, or trying to develop a new habit, we often give up because we don’t see results fast enough. In much of the western world, we are programmed for immediate gratification. I read recently that in the United States, 70% of economic growth comes from consumer spending. The huge advertising …
That’s Right
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes confuse how things are with how they should be, holding tightly to the latter in defiance of the former. Some very stubborn behavior has accompanied my insistence on enforcing “the principle of the thing.” Yesterday, I was walking with a friend and where the trail crossed a …
Called and Chosen
You could sense their hesitation as the captains took turns choosing their players. Of course, they’d started with the fastest and strongest, but at this point, we were well past the elite and down to the dregs. No doubt they’d have preferred to stop while ahead, but they were obligated to include everyone in the …
Confidence
As part of my job, I attend monthly meetings with IT providers from all over North America. Their unique personalities intrigue me and I learn something new at each group’s gatherings. When put on the spot or held accountable to a previous commitment, they respond in interesting ways. Some stay silent until forced to answer. …
God’s Handiwork
As I write this, JB and I are in Moab, Utah. Yesterday we explored Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, CO and today we experienced Canyonlands National Park here in Utah. Countless times we followed snake-like roads, curving right, then left, then right, then left again through unimpressive, monotonous desert scapes. Then suddenly we rounded …
Meeting Needs
The 1991 movie “What About Bob?” depicts a neurotic, obsessive-compulsive man who latches onto his therapist. In desperation, after countless pleading phone calls, Bob cunningly tracks down this therapist, who thought he’d escaped on a peaceful family vacation. As the therapist tries to shake off his clingy, high-maintenance patient, Bob begs, “Gimme! Gimme! I need! …
Face Your Challenge–But Not Alone
Have you ever felt like you were facing something that felt too big for you? It might have been graduating from high school or college. Or the responsibilities of parenthood after learning you had your first child on the way. Perhaps it was a job that felt a few sizes too big for you. When …
Three Lions
Have you ever seen a lion? Perhaps at the zoo? And how did it behave? When I was in South Africa a few years ago, I enjoyed a small safari on a wildlife refuge where we saw a number of lions. Lying placidly under a shade tree they seemed little threat. But when the food …
Before You Even Ask
Do you know how much God cares about you? I mean, how much He cares about you personally, and not just as part of the world He created? I was thinking this morning about how God cares for us so much, He anticipates our needs even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). Sometimes He sends the …
The Experts
If you did an online search for “Experts get it wrong,” you’d find a list of times throughout history when “experts” drew wrong conclusions and made false predictions based on misinterpreting the facts or a lack of information. In 1959 the U.S. Postmaster General declared, “Before man reaches the moon, mail will be delivered within …
Clean Hands
One recent afternoon I was doing a little craft project for which I used a hot glue gun. The glue stuck to my fingers, along with the matted residue of what I was gluing, making quite a mess of my hands! It reminded me of the time I was using superglue as a kid, and …
Buttons
Although I avoid sewing at all costs, I find buttons fun. Whether plastic, glass, wooden, brass, or covered in fabric, each has a little story to tell. Affixed to white cards, hanging on display racks, their bright colors and textures draw my interest. And all mixed up in a bag or jar, with dozens of …
More Than Enough
As I looked out our window one recent evening, layers of billowy clouds fringed with light from the setting sun reminded me of Psalm 113:3, that says from the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. When we awake in the morning, we can choose our …
Fear of Falling
On a recent neighborhood walk, I was amused to see an iconic banana peel lying on the sidewalk. Where do you see that outside of the slip-and-fall cliche in cartoons? Apparently the #BananaPeelChallenge went viral on social media five years ago, and many teens injured themselves attempting to replicate the 100,000+ social media likes one …
Still With You
Ever had something wonderful happen in your life—something so good you could hardly believe it was happening? Maybe it was a great achievement, the birth of a child, or some other fortuitous event of significance. An oft-repeated theme in movies features an ordinary person who is either notified of an obscene inheritance or identified as …
The Highest Praise!
What is the most awe-inspiring sight you have ever seen? I’ve been to Niagara Falls, walked through a glacier in Switzerland, and visited the Sistine Chapel. I remember once boarding an aircraft carrier and its size freaked me out. But none of that compares with what happened to Israel at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. …
The Wealthiest Man
I’ve never watched Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But I have heard of celebrities installing gold bathroom faucets, purchasing fleets of expensive cars, or sporting diamonds on their teeth! Even “celebrity pastors” fall prey to the lure of opulence, with mansions and private jets. I wonder what they hope to gain by spending so …
Digging Deep
When our three oldest sons were young, I gave them a set of colorful bandannas. They wore these in various ways, depending on that day’s particular imaginary adventure. When wearing them loosely around the front and tied behind the neck, the brothers became cowboys. Pulling the bandannas up to cover their mouths and noses (as …
I’ll Fly Away!
As a preschooler, I bore a remarkable likeness to my big brother at that age. One day back then, a sepia family portrait on the wall caught my eye. I proudly pointed to the youngest male and proclaimed, “That’s ME!” Imagine my shock when my only brother, seven years older, remarked, “No it’s not. That’s …
Case Closed
To love my neighbor as myself, the implication’s clear; It will not work to hate myself, to be of any cheer. What does it take to reconcile conflicts hid deep within? How do I mute that voice inside, accusing me again? That critic harsh knows me too well; and crouching, lies in wait Until a …
Game Over
Your favorite football team is five points behind their opponent in the final 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. While in possession of the ball they are only progressing a few yards at a time, and with the clock rapidly running down, theirs seems to be a lost cause. Opposing fans are beginning to high-five …
Bilingual
In his early elementary school years, my husband lived in Belgium due to his father’s job. JB played with Belgian children and easily picked up the French language, along with a perfect accent. In college he majored in French and computer science. Years later he drew on those years of language study while interpreting for …
Heeding God’s Nudges
About four years before my elderly dad died, a young woman approached him after church. With no job and no home other than a motel room, she needed money. True to his kindhearted nature, my dad gladly gave her some cash. Over time their “friendship” continued, with this pitiful woman creating one crisis story after …
Spitting on Flowers
Years ago I heard about a man who experimented by posting a sign in his garden reading, “DON’T SPIT ON THE FLOWERS!” He wanted to see how the neighboring kids would respond. As he watched out his window, sure enough, some children gathered around his garden, secretly spitting on his flowers, quickly looking around to …
You Are Well Able!
Times like the start of new year, birthdays, and funerals frequently prompt reflective thinking. They can serve as catalysts for personal change, as we compare our current situation with where we’d like to be. I used to push New Year’s resolutions. Some years I subjected our whole family to collective half-day goal-setting sessions in early …
Trail Blazing
Years ago I was not what you would call “pro-exercise.” I even found a supporting verse in the Bible: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things (1 Timothy 4:8a KJV). Clearly, it was better to be godly than a jock. Who wants to sweat, anyway? I mean, isn’t that the …
Impossible?
JB (the fifth of five kids) and I (an only child) met in a high school Spanish class the second semester of our senior year. We went on one date before graduation. Then my family moved from Pensacola, Florida to Minnesota. I attended college there (at St. Olaf) and JB went to Dartmouth College in …
Qualified
Last summer, almost on a whim, I applied for a summer internship at a tech company. My previous job consisted of two parts. The first involved a bit of SalesForce research before uploading documents I digitized. The second required me to call customers month after month, requesting completed paperwork. We’re talking very little brain strain. …
A Message You Can Trust
At work, I attend multiple meetings focused on internet security and the many precautions necessary these days to protect ourselves and our data. Beyond that, I regularly take short, employee-focused security courses to keep myself informed and alert. After hearing a number of stories involving social engineering, spear phishing, and scams, I began suspecting just …
A Listening Ear
As I gingerly drove one-handed a week ago, I thought I should be careful to avoid an accident, because that would be no fun at all for someone who already had a broken arm. The very next day, I headed to a store in awful rain. I saw really bad traffic ahead, so I backtracked …
Once and for All
Our youngest daughter has worked at Honey Baked Ham for the past few years. And while they serve sandwiches and cater events year-round, their highest volume of business occurs over the holidays. In late November, people line up outside before the shop even opens, and customers stream in for days, eager to buy the perfect …
See Past the Mirror
I like the movie, “Joe vs. the Volcano.” The plot involves Joe, a former firefighting hero turned sullen factory worker, relegated to a dark and dingy back office. Life has beaten him down and he’s lost sight of his true identity. One dismal day a wealthy stranger shows up, unannounced, at Joe’s shabby apartment and offers …
Speech Therapy
As we walked on a local trail recently, Carrie and I noticed a number of parents with small children. After one toddler cheerfully greeted us in passing, I considered the wonder of language and how we pick it up. Babies are born unable to say a word, They begin speaking only after long hearing others …
Whistle While You Work
Our oldest son and his wife called us on FaceTime recently. Among other things, we discussed work. I mentioned I can hardly believe someone pays me to do my job! I get to learn so much, regularly face new challenges, and exercise my creativity in multiple ways. And I feel blessed to have work I enjoy. …
Busy!
My life has changed dramatically over the past three years. My first career was as a full-time mom/household executive. When our youngest finished the first half of high school I felt change stirring in my heart. Over many months and a series of unpredictable, unprecedented circumstances, I eventually landed a job that I love in the Cloud …
Joy!
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). When my eyes landed on that verse recently, it had special relevance, since I was typing with only my right hand, due to recently breaking a bone in my elbow in a cycling fall. Joy as good medicine seemed …
Are You Mad?
One Friday evening a little over two weeks ago, I decided to do a quick test ride of my road bicycle as part of getting ready for our much-anticipated vacation. As I approached our house, I misjudged a route, lost my balance and took a very hard fall, my left elbow crashing into the pavement. …
Slow to Speak
I always thought it would be cool to be “a man of few words.” You, know, the tall, dark, strong, silent type idealized in movies. I’d be someone who seldom spoke, but when I did dispense a nugget of wisdom or astute observation, heads would turn. My words would be weighty and profound. Reporters would …
Quick to Listen
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather talk than listen any day. Not that I’m in love with the sound of my voice, it just comes more naturally to say what I think than to shut up and pay attention to what somebody else has to say. But the Bible doesn’t tell us to …
Where’s Jesus?
Our home library includes some “Where’s Waldo” children’s books which feature a lanky, bespectacled young man in a red and white shirt, hidden in detailed drawings with scores of other people and objects. The reader must find Waldo on the incredibly busy double-page spread. It’s sometimes tricky, because the illustrator has dressed other people in similar clothes, …
These Don’t Mix
One evening for dessert, I decided I’d “be good” and lower my sugar intake by diluting my ice cream. Reasoning they were both dairy products, I mixed plain yogurt with my butter pecan ice cream. Before you rush to your fridge, be forewarned—it tasted awful! The tartness of the yogurt and the sweetness of the ice …
“Then Said Guy…”
As the parents of six kids, we sometimes found it difficult to appreciate their cleverness or cuteness at the time. That’s why we captured some of those special moments to enjoy later. We have hours of videos filled with birthdays, Christmases, dance recitals, cross country meets, Boy Scouts, marching band competitions, etc. But my favorites …
Sunlight and Water
We grow a variety of flowers and vegetables every summer–thanks to my husband. But my sister-in-law surpasses our collection with her veritable botanical garden. These two green-thumbed siblings amaze me with their gift of gardening. Yet even I, the weakest gardener among us three, know the two key factors to successful gardening: sunlight and water. …
On Becoming Carefree
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to worry? I don’t even watch the news (a virtual fear factory), and yet just going through life gives opportunity after opportunity for me to get caught up in anxious thoughts. Jesus recognized this challenge and invites, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, …
What’s Under Your Microscope?
I Chronicles 16:24-26 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. The Bible calls all of this world’s gods mere idols–but the Lord, who made the …
Grace
You never know what a day may bring. We’ve experienced that truth over the past few months. When COVID hit, our youngest daughter’s college closed its doors and she moved back home. One month later our oldest daughter, suddenly faced with drastic and undesirable changes to her living situation, also moved back home. I rearranged …
Plastic Wrap Love
From over 30 years’ experience, I’ve noticed we can learn many lessons in the kitchen if we’ll pay attention. For instance, have you thought much about plastic wrap? Alone, its flimsy floppiness appears virtually useless. And left to its own devices, it mostly sticks to itself. Or, as if it had a mind of its …
Equal to Thousands
Some of our family enjoys movies based on Marvel comic book characters. Ironman, Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America — these superheroes use superhuman power to fight bad guys. And while we see their flaws, we still root for them to win. They inspire us to keep going when the going gets tough. Did you know that …
The 2.5 Minute Wash
Recently we decided to visit a new automatic car wash. What a cool machine! We drove up to their conveyor, shifted into neutral, then just sat in the car as it pulled us through. After powerful streams of soapy water, we passed through a forest of suspended scrubbing strips, followed by a final rinse and a blow dry …
God’s Part and Our Part
This summer I work with a bright, ambitious young college student who, among other things, performs wonders with spreadsheets. When I draw attention to his solo accomplishments, he deflects my praise, saying “we” did it, because “we’re a team!” His humility catches me by surprise, and his unassuming manner reminds me of David in the …
Stepping Out
When I was a boy living in the panhandle of Florida, my family visited our little beachfront cottage in Gulf Shores, Alabama in the summer. One July evening when there was no moon and calm seas, my dad announced conditions were just right, and we would go floundering that night. Now you may have floundered …
In the Beginning
With growing season in full swing, we spend many hours weeding, planting, and watering our lovely flowers and (struggling) lawn. Spending time outdoors invigorates our souls and brings us joy. And Genesis 1:1 tells us where gardening began: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. From this verse and the rest of …
Moving On
I recently read an article about former coach of the Miami Dolphins, Don Shula. To date, he holds the NFL record for most career wins—347 over a 32 season period. He led his team to two Super Bowl victories, one of which came after coaching them through the only perfect season in NFL history. Apparently …
Three Ways to Define the Present
A song I recently heard included an interesting line: “If the present is a place that my future will define, I want to slow things down and take a little time…”* While I don’t know what the songwriter intended, the words prompted me to consider how people view the present. Some, as this lyric might …
Willfulness
We once owned a Fisher-Price Corn Popper toy. When our two-year-old Jeremy rolled it across the floor, the balls inside the clear dome popped up like popcorn. But he called it his ‘lawn mower’ because that’s what he thought it looked like. So one day he asked if he could take it in the back …
You’re in the Army, Part 2
Our friends’ son enlisted in the U.S. Army right after high school. He rose to become an elite Ranger, then later a Green Beret and a member of the Special Forces Dive Team. At one point, within days of his unit’s deployment to Iraq, his parents called to tell him a close relative, like a …
Memorial Day
Memorial Day morning, 2020, while doing some laundry, I overheard my wife listening to a podcast. It seemed the speaker first addressed the meaning of the holiday, remembering soldiers who died to preserve our freedom. He then suggested that our best response was not to mourn, but to make the most of our lives. As …
You’re in the Army, Part 1
After crossing the Jordan River and entering into the Promised Land, the Israelites soon saw the walled city of Jericho, a veritable fortress, imposing and impenetrable. The scene looked impossible and yet God told Joshua that they would take the city. His grand scheme: they’d march around the city for seven days with seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns. …
Not Merely a Fan
Some people follow sports passionately. Zealous football fans buy season tickets, wear jerseys, carry posters, paint their faces, buy bumper stickers, yell at the top of their lungs during the opposing team’s huddle, and maybe even appear on TV during a game. It feels great to be a fan, no matter our country or favorite sport, especially …
Ten Million Things You Might Need to Ignore
A book I’ve been reading states that the human body boasts eleven million sensory receptors, and ten million of those relate to sight. The author also shared an estimate that interpretation of visual signals accounts for 50% of brain activity. Reading that, my mind immediately recalled words written ages ago by the Apostle Paul: For …
Let Your Light Shine
We once sang a Sunday School song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna to let it shine…” If kids were to sing that nowadays, they’d whip out their cell phones, turn on a flashlight app, and start waving them! The song actually comes from the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. … Let …
Winding Paths
“The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” This and similar aphorisms were often repeated by my father as I grew up. I’m sure it was spoken in various contexts, but I suspect it was most often associated with getting somewhere faster or something being done more efficiently. It’s certainly true in the …
It’s Only a Shadow
Have you ever made shadow puppets? It’s easy to create a shadow resembling a duck, rabbit, dove, or swan. Young children find this skill entertaining and fascinating. If they tried to cuddle that duck or rabbit, however, they’d be sorely disappointed, realizing the puppeteer used only hands and not actual animals. The Old Testament is …
The Head-Heart Connection
Do you find any foods particularly bothersome? Spicy foods cause some people heartburn. Others can’t drink caffeine at night without experiencing insomnia. A few get headaches after ingesting sweets. These foods enter our mouths but affect other parts of our bodies. Similarly, what we allow to linger in our minds, “chewing” and “digesting” those thoughts, …
Sloppy Joes
These are crazy times and it would be easy to slip into a negative mindset. That’s why I so appreciate those who bring levity to the situation. The other day I saw a spoof article featuring a man sitting at his home office desk, wearing a headset and using his computer. He was well groomed, …
Just the Key You May Need
The current pandemic has triggered unprecedented events, including our youngest daughter’s recent college campus closure. The school ordered students to vacate on short notice, continuing all coursework online for the rest of the semester, so we suddenly needed to get her moved back home. We and our daughter‘s older sister caravanned down on Saturday morning thinking we’d easily …
Hiding
As a youngster, one of our sons closed his eyes tightly when sneaking a cookie, reasoning that if he couldn’t see us, we couldn’t see him! We understood his rationale–“hiding” what his hand was doing. Though cute, he was wrong. When we know we’re in the wrong, we hide it. We find this human reaction …
Holding On
God recently revealed to me how we try to hold on to seasons, events, circumstances, moments in our lives and want to camp there. We do this with all kinds of things. We experience something that seems successful or that makes us happy, and we want to preserve it, systematize it, institutionalize it. We can, …
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, in his ballad “Der Zauberlehrling”, never intended to demonstrate a biblical truth. Neither did Walt Disney in his cartoon interpretation, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. But the story portrays an amazing reality. At the cartoon’s start, Mickey Mouse tires of having to carry water for his master, so he dons the Sorcerer’s cap and magically …
A Silver Platter
In almost every room of our house we display butterflies my husband artistically framed in shadow boxes. Our kids have observed, heard about, and learned way more about butterflies than the average person because of my husband’s past related business. Once when the kids were young, we watched a caterpillar form its chrysalis. When hatching day …
A Lesson from Our Nation’s Capital
During my early elementary school years my family lived in Arlington, VA, just outside Washington D.C.. We saved money shopping at the Commissary and Navy Exchange on the military base, and went to the Navy doctor when necessary. Our family of three didn’t live extravagantly but we had enough to enjoy cultural outings now and …
Puzzled
We often leave a puzzle sitting out on a table at our house. It’s fun being able to take a break now and then, stopping to fill in a few more pieces of the picture. My favorite puzzles are from paintings that include scenes with people milling about doing various tasks. Most of them are …
Becoming Yogurt
Whether or not we realize it, we become like those we hang around. It’s true spiritually and it’s true with yogurt! A few years ago I started making yogurt. People have done this for generations, but I’d never been taught. After reading various recipes and tips (and drumming up enough gumption), I finally tried my …
Fresh!
Years ago, we patronized a bakery outlet that sold day-old bread at a discount, and we’d stock our freezer with it, to feed our dozens of children. (OK, there were only six of them, but it seemed like a lot.) One day I got the mother of our hungry horde a bread-making machine. Which bread …
Burned
Last week JB and I hiked Deer Creek Canyon. We enjoy the trails in this park because of the lovely vistas and quiet solitude. Due to unmelted snow and ice on our “regular” trail, we chose a different route. And while hiking we came across an unexpected sight. The first thing we noticed were a …
Rule Breakers
Rules. There’s something about them that makes us want to break them. But if you’re an NFL player and you break a rule, it can cost you big bucks! For instance, physical contact with an official costs a player $35,096 for the first offense and $70,194 for the second! (It’s a lot cheaper to simply …
Why’d You Do That?
I walked in the kitchen recently and was greeted with a most unusual culinary sight: three encyclopedias precariously perched on an upside-down bowl atop a slow cooker. My wife is quite creative in the kitchen, but this cooking contraption was somewhat unprecedented. Turns out the turkey breast she had in the slow cooker was just …
Wear Your Helmet, Dude!
When I see motorcyclists riding without helmets I wonder why they have such disregard for their brains. I assumed riding without a helmet was illegal, until I recently read that neither federal law nor the laws of 31 states require it. Leather pants and jackets, once popular biker protection, seem to have disappeared like the …
What’s in Your Mailbox?
This time of year Americans are especially excited to see what’s in the mail, hoping for personal letters and gifts. In my elementary school years, my grandmother sometimes sent us a coffee can full of homemade Christmas cookies. I now love receiving Christmas cards and photos from longtime friends and family. And it’s a great time …
In Honor of My Dad
My dad passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019. We’re attending two memorial services for him, one military and one Lutheran, the day this is posted. And although this is twice the length of our normal posts, I thought I’d pass along what I will be sharing in hopes that it might encourage you in …
Apologies
Peter once asked Jesus, “How many times must I forgive my brother? Seven times?” I thought this a funny question for Peter to ask, given his brash, bossy, driven ways– prone to put his foot in his mouth. That zealous personality probably helped his fishing business, enabling him to command his fishing crew and sell …
Lost in Translation
When learning a language one must start with the basics in order to speak like someone from another country. Romance languages, based on Latin, are the easiest because we find so many consistencies. Spanish is probably the simplest. Once you learn its alphabet you can correctly pronounce any word in that language! The letter A …
Giving Thanks
“Thanks a LOT.” Perhaps this phrase is uniquely American, but if you’ve heard this sentiment spoken the way it’s written here, delivered without any hint of a smile, what vocal expression might you imagine accompanying it? If used in response to an obviously undesirable occurrence, the tone was probably sarcastic, right? One can say, “Thank …
No Substitutes
Occasionally I find myself without a specific ingredient while cooking. At such times I look for a substitute. The recipe might not turn out exactly the same, but I’m not a purist so I don’t worry about it. Some substitutions are easy. For example, if I’m out of red onions I’ll substitute Vidalias, dried onions, …
My Word!
Out of curiosity, have you ever counted how many Bibles you own? I just took a walk around our home, and found over two dozen Bibles and New Testaments. That doesn’t even touch my digital Bible collection, or the scores of translations accessible online. My most recent visit to Christian Book Distributors’ website listed over 11,000 …
Call Before You Dig
If you are reading this, chances are you have electricity and indoor plumbing. If you live in a detached house, you likely have a lawn as well. Underneath that green turf (or brown turf, if you fail to water in Colorado) run an assortment of pipes and wires supplying water, sewer, natural gas, sprinkler systems, …
Stop That Train!
Decades ago, before space travel and technology flooded the American film scene, motion pictures about the Old West often included trains. The peak of tension in such action-adventure movies occurred when a train wreck looked inevitable because some bad guys had taken out the conductor. This left the locomotive with no one to control it …
Mirror, Mirror
Some old Disney movies contain surprising lessons. One in particular comes to mind. The evil queen in Snow White exhibited an overbearing personality that belied her lack of self-confidence. Maleficent depended on a magic mirror to stroke her ego, requiring perpetual updates to support her sense of self-importance. Each morning she approached the looking glass …
Rules or Relationship?
Sometimes . . . OK, often, I get caught up with “doing things right” or following rules I make for myself. Just the other day I caught myself once again getting up in arms about “the principle” of a thing. As intermediary in someone else’s financial conflict, I was wrestling with the other party’s unjust …
Yield
One difficulty in learning to drive is getting the hang of how to yield. Having helped teach six teens to drive, I can tell you that coaching others to “read” the traffic is tricky. (And while I could share some white knuckle stories from those days, those now-licensed young drivers could just as easily tell …
Food and Fashion
I’m not much of a foodie or a fashionista. My cooking style could be described as, “Throw it in a pot and see what happens!” And my fashion sense might be laughable to those “in the know.” Yet these are popular trends in modern culture. So it’s a good thing John the Baptist is no …
Bad Egg
Do you have a dramatic egg story? I do! One day I wanted a nice, hot, hard boiled egg. Fortunately, I’d boiled and peeled a few eggs the day before and stored them in the fridge. Now, I reasoned, all I needed to do was heat one up. And the quickest way involved the microwave. …
God’s Labor Day
Yesterday we celebrated Labor Day in the U.S.. I heard one person say that whoever named that particular holiday should be fired since it’s actually a non-labor day! We get a day off to rest from our work. And God is in full agreement with this idea. Hebrews 4:4 tells us, For He has said somewhere …
Hidden Beliefs
During elementary school summers, my mom and I often spent afternoons at the Overlee Pools. This swim club featured two large competitive-sized swimming pools, a kids’ pool, and a deep water diving area. My swim team practiced there in the early mornings or late afternoons. But during the rest of the day, people of all ages …
The Lego Solution
Our oldest son has always loved Legos. Having explored their endless potential over many years, he even kept some on his desk as a military officer to help him with problem solving! But my earliest and perhaps fondest memory of Legos occurred after giving birth to our third son. (Three sons in 3 1/2 years!) Living with …
Walking on Your Own
Recall the story of the lame man lying by the pool of Bethesda. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He asked, “Do you wish to get well?” (John 5:6) In response the man whined, “I have no one to help me!” The guy obviously needed healing and …
A Firm Foundation
This summer we had the joy of visiting our oldest son and his wife in Southern California. They live just blocks from the Pacific, so we spent hours strolling alongside the ocean, watching the surfers and enjoying the lovely weather. One paved stretch along the beachfront (called The Strand) features large, multilevel, multimillion dollar homes …
Shape Sorter
Spend as much time around toddlers as I have and you’ll eventually find yourself facing a gizmo called the shape sorter. Our family owned one and so does every church nursery in which I’ve volunteered. While this toy has evolved over the years, the one with which I’m most familiar comes from the Tupperware company. …
Our Coach
When I swam in high school, Mark Spitz was every swimmer’s hero! An Olympic champion, he set world records and won gold medals in seven events at the 1972 Munich Olympics. A stickler for proper form, my coach showed us filmstrips of Mark Spitz swimming, demonstrating proper technique and motivating us. Afterward, “Coach” surprised us by …
Better than “Good Enough”
For most of my life, I felt flawed. Whether from seeing other kids easily achieve things I struggled with, or through painful awareness of all my mistakes, I knew I needed something. Usually I thought that meant food! A chubby girl riddled with guilt, eventually I reasoned that more knowledge was the key to fixing myself. …
Adjusting to Your New Reality
(This was written by Chaplain John Roe from the King Veteran’s Home in Wisconsin where my dad lives. I asked his permission to share, and edited slightly for succinctness.) Adjusting to new realities is a difficult task for many people. I define the term new reality as, “The way life is right now, whether you like …
Our Independence
Before America became a nation, a group of British citizens crossed the sea to start a new life here. As time passed and the settlers’ numbers grew, British homeland authorities considered the colonies a great source of tax revenue. This resulted in protests over taxation without representation and a host of other objections, culminating in …
Reserving Judgment
Early in my technology career in marketing support, I was at the end of a long day of computer demonstrations at a General Motors plant in Michigan. I’d found the facility’s immensity impressive—we’d been transported by vehicle from one part of the building to another. Our driver zipped past showers of sparks and gigantic manufacturing …
T-Shirt Theology
Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger. . . who will prepare Your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’” This quotation from Isaiah …
Ships at Sea
I grew up a “Navy brat.” Born at the Naval Academy where my dad served as a chaplain, I lived on both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico growing up. Our house decor included seashell soap dishes, paintings of ships at sea, and an autographed photo of Admiral Chester Nimitz (whom I called “Grandpa Nimitz”) signing …
Tool or Friend?
A devotional entry I recently read gave me reason for pause. The writer suggested that all your life could basically be training “for one moment, crisis, or opportunity.” He was trying to encourage his readers, no doubt, with the idea that “Your time will come. God will put you in the right place at the …
Three Types of People
A favorite joke of mine says, “There are three types of people in the world: those who can count and those who can’t”. But Paul verifies in I Corinthians that there actually are three types of people in the world, and it’s no laughing matter! Most people are what Paul refers to as natural or …
Sidewalk Chalk
I’m intrigued by the way the application of various shades of color conceals flaws, whether makeup on a face, paint on a wall, or stain on wood. Highlighting and creating beauty magically diverts one’s attention from any imperfections. I experienced a magnificent example of this one summer. We visited an outdoor festival downtown, featuring gifted artists …
Pipe Lesson 3
In the past year we’ve had two floods in our basement. The first affected the ceiling, part of an outer wall, and a good-sized area of parquet flooring. The second concentrated itself around our water heater, an area behind a large storage closet, and the basement bathroom floor. Rather than wallowing in self-pity after these …
Unlimited Supply
Years ago our three oldest boys sometimes fought over who got to sit in the station wagon’s front seat. I guess they felt special or more grown up sitting beside the driver. Observing the scene logically, this made no sense to me. Regardless of where they sat, everyone reached the destination at the same time! …
Show Me!
I admire eloquent speakers and those quick on their feet. My husband and my dad have those gifts. Each is a skilled story teller, and I love a good story. But a few people are so loquacious that my brain has a difficult time keeping up! Their verbosity overwhelms me. And while they seem to have …
Pipe Lesson 2
The day after basement flood #2 (See Pipe Lesson 1) I decided to milk as much out of our plumbing problems as possible. There had to be a silver lining in this gray cloud of water leaks. Hence, multiple posts about pipes! Typically copper pipes don’t spring leaks spontaneously. So it took some detective work to …
Pipe Lesson 1
Recently we experienced an unexpectedly busy 24-hour period, filled with one problem after another. It began when JB discovered a leak in our basement, the second in a year, caused by a nail poking through the joist. By the next afternoon our plumber had repaired the faulty pipe and we enjoyed running water once more. …
Got the Picture?
Back in the “olden days” we used cameras that required film. And one year at a Lutheran summer camp in Vermont, I learned how to develop that film. A crucial element in this process involved keeping an eye on the clock–because timing was everything. The film itself revealed “the negatives.” No one spent time studying …
Opportunities for Peace
In many ways my husband and I are alike. We each enjoy nature, hiking, music, exercise, family time, funny (clean) movies, and most of all, God’s Word. In other ways, however, we differ. One discrepancy manifests itself in our philosophies about possessions. I hold to the adage, “A place for everything . . .” But …
The Chocolate Lesson
As a child I enjoyed reading and rereading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which the eccentric factory owner, Willy Wonka, must manage five children visiting his chocolate factory. This first occurs when they see the river of chocolate for the first time. The gluttonous and obese Augustus Gloop is mesmerized by the gallons of sweetness …
Life without Elbows
I appreciate some parts of my body more than others. When I’m hungry and it’s time to eat I appreciate my teeth and tongue. When I want to research and read I appreciate my eyes. When it’s time to listen to Mozart I appreciate my ears. But what would life be like without elbows? No …
Raindrops
When we lived in South Florida, fall sometimes brought rainstorms so strong that driving became impossible. The cascading downpour prevented drivers from being able to see through their windshields. They pulled their cars to the side of the road, waiting for the sheets of rain to subside. Those torrential storms remind me of legalism. Some believers are not …
Decisions, Decisions
If you think the Old Testament is boring or irrelevant, consider Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. In 1 Kings 12 we read about his first (and worst) decision as the newly crowned fourth king of Israel. He started off well, just as his once-wise father Solomon had, by recognizing his need for advice in how to rule the …
No Fear!
Years ago we attended a fun outdoor family event with some church friends and their children. We rode a little train, admired the petting zoo, and enjoyed the morning. Later, light rain began just as we settled in a field to watch the Ronald McDonald show. We quickly ducked under our blankets to stay dry. …
Widgets
I have been learning about WordPress widgets. That term may sound impressive if you don’t speak the lingo, but it’s not that technical. In this case, a widget is an application that allows the user to perform a particular function. And depending on the chosen WordPress theme, a variety of widgets are available. All I …
Let Color Sing
More than once, I’ve taken a moment to thank God that He didn’t just make a monochromatic, black-and-white world. Do colors delight you, too? Their vibrant hues probably motivated me to collect rocks, minerals, seashells and postage stamps growing up. Another love of mine has always been butterflies, iridescent beetles, and other fascinating insects that …
Reaching the Destination
Unlike my methodical husband, I enjoy exploring unknown roads. Some streets simply look inviting, and my curiosity gets the best of me. I follow a “hunch” rather than a map. Sometimes I arrive at my desired destination, and other times I must backtrack and end up following the traditional route. Although it may look as …
Super Servants
We have many servants at our house. . . as do most westerners. Formally I call some of them Kenmore, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Apple, and Sony. Grateful for the time they save me, I take care of them and try to treat them well. It’s amazing what they enable me to accomplish in a day, thanklessly offering …
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