There was a point in my life when a question mark hung over my head. You see, I didn’t know the future, and it scared me. I couldn’t figure out tomorrow, next year or the future. I was paralyzed by the thought of just not knowing. Uncertainty led to stupidity as I tried to order the future around my stupid pride. That question mark eventually led me to a relationship with God, a place to turn the question mark into a... Read more
We like praise. We love praise. We crave praise. I don’t care how humble you are, there is still a welling of pride that comes when others recognize the work of your hands. It started as children when even the simplest drawing with a blunt crayon was hung on the refrigerator. Proudly beaming for days, we sulked when it finally had to come down. Something inside of us wants our efforts to be applauded. “Look at me!” Although we might coyly... Read more
Over the last few years some sharp barbs have been thrown my way. Some were deserved, and I pull those out with the understanding they were fair consequence for my own behavior. Do the crime, do the time. Other accusations were patently unfair and untrue, but were flung with the same venom and velocity as the others. I sit with all of their pointed tips, gathered in my lap. I look at both the fair and unfair, and sort them... Read more
As I look at the world, I am struck by this fact. We simply don’t honor each other, we don’t honor institution and we certainly don’t honor God.And I’m right there, so I’m trying to understand just what honor means.Bernie is part of this amazing writer’s group that I blessed to part of. And she sent me a note about “honor,” a topic I wrote on yesterday. And I love her insight, found over at Healing of the Heart. She reminded me... Read more
Some words never go out of style. Words like “love” and “bacon.” But one word that is disappearing from our lexicon is “honor.” In fact, I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard in a normal conversation or read about in a publication. Whatever happened to honor? When I think of honor, my mind heads over to the middle ages, where knights lived by a “code of honor.” These men fought for truth to the point of personal loss. Honesty,... Read more
A casual walk down the aisle of your favorite discount store reveals the great lengths manufacturers will go to save us from ourselves. Warning labels are plastered on nearly every product, warning us of choking, addiction, overdose, and every imaginable harm. If something goes wrong, don’t say you weren’t warned! Even the simplest product is plastered with orange “Adviso/Warnings.” I remember my son’s Halloween costume a few years ago. He was going through a Batman phase and the costume was... Read more
Ever wonder what the will of God is? This post should tell you exactly — what it isn’t. Read on, or see the whole version today at The High Calling I squeezed my eyes tight, pushing the daylight out of every conceivable corner. I was convinced that it was right here, right now that God would speak. The setup was perfect. I was 17, gifted and on fire. I wanted to serve God—anywhere, anyhow. I drove into a quiet spot in... Read more
A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of. – Ogden Nash It’s not just dogs Mr. Nash. It’s me. For my whole life, I’ve always wondered what’s on the other side of the door. Like a horse pushing his head through the narrow slats in the fence, the grass does seem greener. It’s made for a life or discontent, or a life of wonder. It kind of depends. I think there is a spark in... Read more
I’ll never forget the night I almost died. I was driving across a lonely Wyoming highway. It was past midnight and I was making the 450-mile monthly trek back home from my Air National Guard weekend duty. ) It was dark. I was alone. No other cars were crazy enough to be out that late on a two-lane road. I had to stay awake. Occasionally I would see the orange glow of eyes along the road, tucked in the bushes, reminders that deer, antelope and elk were nearby. I... Read more
If you’re human, you will have some sort of trial come your way. It’s a guarantee. You may lose a job, have a spouse walk away from you, or contract a life-threatening disease. There are smaller trials – like an unrelenting boss, a rebellious child, or a financial loss – that are no less trying. On Monday, I started a post called, “Don’t Waste Your Trial.” And there’s more to be said. We’re really not supposed to buckle in and wait for the wild ride... Read more
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