the presence of others

Tomorrow morning, a couple of friends and I are planning to drive two hours to attend the funeral of a stranger. The deceased actually is the brother of a close friend and co-worker who unexpectedly died of a brain aneurism at the age of 50.

We’re attending the funeral for the same... Read More

Take time for your heart

Every morning I take a baby aspirin. Heart disease runs in my family, and my doctor says it’s good for the health of my ticker.

The particular brand of aspirin I take etches the shape of a small heart on the side of the pill. At first I thought it was corny. But every time I see it,... Read More

Slow down and talk it through

Today I came across a story about Kevin Sorbo—the muscle bound actor who played Hercules from the television show with the same name. Playing the mythic Greek hero, Kevin fought epic battles against evil forces and rescued damsels in distress. Yet ironically, while filming Hercules,... Read More

Jesus is not a pain killer

Have you ever tried to used Jesus as a pain-killer? I know I have.

In an attempt to survive a time of feeling let down by others or myself, I’ve immersed myself in spiritual disciplines like prayer and scripture reading. I’ve even listened to a few Jesus centered tunes to soothe... Read More

Places To Belong

In his book, Befriending the Stranger, Jean Vanier (founder of L’Arche) shared this gripping exchange he once had with a man who was in prison:

“I remember my visit to a top security prison in Kingston, Ontario. I told the prisoners about the men and... Read More

“I don’t need easy. I just need possible.”

Last weekend I re-watched the film Soul Surfer. It’s tells the inspiring true story about the young surfer girl (Bethany Hamilton) whose arm was bit off by a shark in October of 2003 while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. Remarkably, only one month after the attack that nearly... Read More

Who do you love the most?

A young child once asked her father, “Daddy, who do you love the most, me or my brother?” The father wisely explained to his child that he loved each one of his children the same, but he sometimes expressed his love in different ways.

Later, the young child then asked, “Daddy,... Read More

What Occupies You?

To illustrate the truth of Ephesians 5:18, Evangelist DL Moody once held up an empty glass and asked an audience, “Tell me. How can I get the air out of the glass I have in my hand?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” But Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum... Read More

Staying Grounded

Last week I was reading through a monthly newsletter from John Eldredge, founder of Ransomed Heart Ministries. Eldredge, who has recently written a book about Jesus, said that one of things that  struck him the most going through the life of Christ again was how grounded of a person Jesus was.Read More

John Rich

John Rich, country singer and winner of the Celebrity Apprentice was asked how he won so much money for his charity, St Jude’s hospital.  He replied, “Because I’m at my best when I’m working for something bigger than me.”

He was 100% committed to what he referred to as his... Read More