Sometimes I look at this life I’m living, trying to make righteous choices, and the doubts creep in. I wonder if it’s just a waste of time when I could be enjoying the full fruits of this world. And then there’s everyone else. Since the beginning of time, it’s estimated that more than 8 billion people have made a decision to follow Christ. Since 1934, the number of Christians increased by 1300 percent while the world’s population grew only 400... Read more
He had learned the trade from his father who probably learned it from his father. The tools were simple. The wood. The nails. The hammer. Wood shavings crunched on the floor, trod by leather sandals. The smell of lumber filled his nostrils. Banging. Scraping. Sawing. The workshop was continually busy. It was all in the life of a carpenter. There was something satisfying about taking raw lumber and forming a piece of furniture, a shelf or a tool. But then... Read more
This is a Holy Week tribute to Johnny Hart, the creative cartoonist behind the “B.C.” cartoon strip and the “Wizard of Id.” He died of a stroke four years ago, ironically, on Easter Day. This is a long post, but once you read it, you’ll realize why I choose this time to honor such a man. Hart had a wry sense of humor that made millions laugh since 1958. “B.C.” was considered the most widely read comic strip on the planet. Johnny’s conversion... Read more
There lies within me a natural urge to walk away. When the wagging tongues throw their barbs of criticism my way, it’s tempting to find a way out, quick. When the naysayers remind me that I don’t have what it takes, I think about leaving. Run away from all of this. When my vision is blurred by the stark realities of finances, of health, of failures past, it’s hard to see anything but the door. The exit signs always seem to be lit,... Read more
I always had this belief that I would be successful. Not to go all Freud on you, but this started with my mother, who instilled some big dreams in my head as a lad. She pushed me to memorize the math tables that swirled in my head. The B plus was a sign of failure. The second-place wasn’t good enough. “You can do better.” Doctor. Pilot. Scientist. Any of those professions would be fine with her. But there were the... Read more
Each morning, my grandmother would pull on her blue-zippered sweater and open the door from her single-wide trailer. The famous Santa Cruz fog was thick in the morning, blowing moisture in from the Pacific and misting every surface with droplets. She would shake the leaves of the eucalyptus tree that dripped on the deck and then she would pull out her long-handled shovel to work the rich soil. She was 90, nimble, spry and full of life. Her mannerisms and... Read more
The movie City Slickers is a great story about finding your place in life. Hoping to relieve the frustrations of his life, the character played by Billy Crystal convinced his two buddies to take a vacation at a working dude ranch. Crystal’s life is scattered. He is torn between the obligations to his family and his job. He is realizing that life is passing him by — that his own body and mind are aging and he has nothing to show for it. What’s... Read more
Image via Wikipedia As a boy, I would tie a blanket around my neck and pull a pair of white BVDs up over my flannel pajamas. I fished out a pair of my mother’s sunglasses from the basket by the kitchen counter and hid my face behind the rose tint. I was ready. Perched on the back of the couch, I would wait for my brother to come around the corner and then fly through the air, wrestling down the villain he... Read more
I remember standing behind the lectern, laser pointer in hand. Teaching, leading, I imparted knowledge and inspired action. But to be honest, I was no expert. Hundreds of times I looked at eager eyes from the chairs pulled into a circle. Opening the book, pointing out history and theology and imagery, everyone said how great it was. I really didn’t know anything more than anyone else. A long time ago I took a position behind the pulpit, preaching God’s word with eloquence and wisdom. But... Read more
I am just now recovering from a two-week injury to my hands. Let me tell you about it and the lesson I learned. You see, I make a living with my fingers, typing the day away creating corporate communications – a magazine, an electronic newsletter, a blog and other written material. I value my digits – all of them. “I need to protect them.” To relieve stress, I love to work around the home. I recently tackled a stone project. When... Read more
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