While I’m not sure great is a category into which we should be putting kids, I get Donald Miller’s point. He wrote a really interesting blog post this week & it’s been helping me as I approach my kids. He wrote: Secretly (until now), I’ve noticed a common theme amongst well-adjusted kids. The theme seems to be this: Great kids come from families in which parents are real about their shortcomings. They come from families who live and believe in grace. I’ve also... Read more
I rode into work about 6:30 this morning and turned on NPR on the way. They were doing a special report, telling the world that there was a shootout in Boston overnight with the two bombing suspects from the Boston Marathon. The entire city of Boston has been shut down, no taxis, no public transit, and residents are being asked to stay indoors with their doors locked, and to only open up for correctly identified authorities. Video – really audio... Read more
My youngest son has a rare form of dyslexia, fewer than 3% of all dyslexics have this form of the disorder. He’s working his tail off with a reading specialist twice a week for an hour, on top of daily drills and exercises. All told, I think my wife spends about six hours a week working with him one on one, often in short little bursts that fit the temperament of a first grader – not to mention the countless... Read more
Can you bunk something? Can you combobulate me? (that sounds naughty:-)). I saw this list on Dictionary.com – where I am a frequent flyer (which also means I belong to a sub-culture known as “the socially awkward”). These are ten words which have essential prefixes. That means the root word without its prefix/suffix is no longer a part of the English lexicon. As I was enjoying the list I realized something. I wish I had a nerdy etymologist dude who... Read more
Two improvised explosive devices were detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday. Three people were killed, and over 175 were wounded and sought medical attention at local hospitals. Pictures now emerging from the scene paint a gruesome picture of limbs blown off, blood-soaked sidewalks, people screaming in pain and fear, and stumbling around in shock. Reports this morning tell us that 17 remain in critical condition, and 41 more are in serious condition. An 8-year-old boy was among... Read more
I confess that I did not watch a single moment of the Masters this year – first time in a long time. I did, however, watch nearly all of a fairly meaningless NASCAR race at Texas. I confess that I am wondering if this says something about me as a person. I confess that I’m still feeling sad that Brennan Manning is gone. More than that, though, I’m feeling such profound gratitude for his life. He was the first writer... Read more
I first heard about Brennan Manning when I heard about his book Ragamuffin Gospel from Rich Mullins. I read it all the way through in about two sittings – I think that was about 1993? I was a ragamuffin and I knew it. Manning was a constant reminder to all of us that the love of God is always bigger than we think it is. God’s grace is always better than we think it is. Whatever conception we have of... Read more
My wife knows, of course, so do most of my friends. I mean it’s kind of obvious… not the sort of thing you can keep hidden for very long. Most of the people in my life are cool about it. I get the occasional eye roll or smirk. But my kids? They have no idea. I fear the day that they will figure it out… and they will figure it out. Today it is easy. I can walk in the... Read more
David Kuo died last week after a ten year battle with brain cancer. He was a trusted voice from Washington, beloved by many evangelical square pegs – myself included. David Kuo helped me to snip the final cords that held me to the Republican party – either party for that matter – encouraging me to allow my Christianity to define me completely. I will miss hearing from him. You could tell by the way he wrote that Kuo was a... Read more
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