Timing is everything

In his book Encouragement: The Key to Caring, Larry Crabb tells the story of how nerve wracking it was the first time he nervously volunteered to pray out loud during a church service. Larry, who struggled with stuttering as a youngster, recalled, “I found my theology becoming confused... Read More

Sexpectations

I’m reading the book He’s Just Not That Into You.  Please don’t stop reading my blog yet- I know – this book is sooo not from a biblical mindset. It’s written mainly by a man, with a woman who wrote for the television program “Sex and the City.”  I know, I know!  This... Read More

Honoring an abusive parent

Someone recently asked me how can an adult child “honors” an emotionally abusive parent. Sadly, it’s an important question that many face. While there isn’t a blanket answer because each situation is different, there are some general thoughts to think through that apply... Read More

The Misspoken Word

I love puns, words with double meanings, or mixed up words in a sentence, like “I’m going to take my oil in to change my car.” And how many times have I asked my son to go throw ice on the sidewalk? I mean salt, but I usually say “go throw some ice on the ice.”  A lot of good... Read More

“What I dread has happened to me”

“What I dread has happened to me.”

Those are not the words of one of the thousands of family members whose lives have been devastated by the upheaval of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week. Although they could be.

Those are the words of lament... Read More

Japan

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those in Japan who’ve been hurt by the earthquake and tsunami. The video of houses being forced off their foundations and cars racing down a river of water is disturbing. The thought of people dying such a terrifying death is even more upsetting. The earthquakes... Read More

Scrutinize thyself first

The married couple sitting before me was in serious trouble. They both felt deeply hurt and betrayed by the other. He lied about a serious gambling addiction that threatened to sink them financially. She covered up an inappropriate friendship with a male co-worker.  Both had a long list of how... Read More

When doing good feels bad

Have you ever done the right thing and yet you feel bad? Don’t you expect to feel good for doing what’s good? I know I do. Whether I’m aware of it in the moment or not, I discover that I have this unwritten and unspoken assumption that if I’m doing good, I’ll feel... Read More

Mystery

Who doesn’t enjoy a good mystery whether it’s a novel, or a big screen “whodunit” thriller?  I love the wonder, the questions, the surprises, and piecing together clues.

Initially, though, I don’t always appreciate the unknown in my personal life nearly as much as I do on... Read More

Counting down the days

One of our co-workers has a sheet on the outside of his office that is counting down the days until Spring officially arrives–March 20th. I, for one, can hardly wait. I’m almost anticipating the arrival of Spring as much as Jesus second coming. I’m not quite there yet, but another... Read More