At some point, we all do it. We compare. For good or for bad. Maybe it’s material possessions. It could be gifts or talents. The success (or failures) of our kids. Or SIN. Well, that’s not exactly the subject you wanted to read about today. It’s also not the subject I necessarily wanted to write […]

I’m not sure when it happened. It must’ve been pretty sneaky because generally speaking I would never just blindly agree to it. When did we stop doing the fun thing first? Now, before you go all, “We’re grown adults and we have responsibility” on me, just don’t. Clearly I understand that. But I’m beginning to

I vividly remember the day. I can close my eyes and still see everything. I’ve walked through struggles and trials just like most of you. All of those have shaped me, changed me, and challenged me. But this one; this one was different. I think it was around 2007. Life had handed me some pretty

I think it was 2018. I made the decision to teach a Bible study at our church. That’s where I met Lisa. I hadn’t taught for several years so there were lots of options available to me.  In those years, God had been working; pruning and disciplining while also loving. I felt as if the

When was the last time you laughed? I don’t mean a little chuckle. I mean a genuine, from the gut, I’m-gonna-pee-my pants laugh. I suppose the current state of the world around us could make that challenging. Everybody’s trying to get the last word. Devastation is everywhere (flooding, fires, etc.). For some reason we have

We’ve heard the saying over and over again, “Hindsight is 20/20”. Or what about, “If I knew then what I know now”. Countless times in life we look back and find ourselves thinking, “Now it all makes sense”. My friend, Sarah, and I met for supper last night. Too many months had passed since we

I’ve always been fascinated by quilts; especially hand-stitched ones. My grandmothers and great-grandmothers were excellent seamstresses, which means I’ve been the recipient of their labors. The beauty of the outside (or top) of the quilt only reveals part of the story; the culmination of their time and efforts. The countless hours, days, weeks, and months

Sitting around a table is one of my favorite things. Good food and good conversation make for even better memories. This weekend will be spent at these tables. You can draw a few conclusions if you look closely. Large drinking vessels, brownies, bagels, and a box of kleenex; what more could we possibly need. Right?

There’s a tension in the air. It almost feels like you can touch it. It’s at work and at the gas station. It’s in the produce section and at the school drop-off line. It’s in the booth behind you at Applebee’s and even that encounter with your neighbor at the mailbox. Chaos. Busyness. No margin.

This picture represents many things; too many to actually list here probably. But let me give a few examples, such as: a safe (but scary) place, a peaceful (but stormy) place, where I often talk to and listen to God, where I ponder the life of my dad and brother (and many others whose loss