Breaking the Olympic Rings Most of you have probably been spending a lot of time these last few weeks watching the 2024 Olympic games in Paris. I have. It’s fun to watch and pull for a team, but I must confess that this year I found particular fascination with a new sport–break dancing, or more accurately, breaking. I don’t suppose it is all that strange for dance to be included in the Olympics. After all, there are... Read more
DO YOU KNOW THE MUFFIN PAN? “Some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices. Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans” (1 Chronicles 9:30-31). I wonder if they had muffin pans … THE MUFFIN PAN, THE MUFFIN PAN This line of thought all started with a new muffin pan. Do you know the muffin pan?... Read more
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (OR BEAUTIFUL) YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW Did you ever just blurt something out and have no idea why? Well, I don’t recommend it, but there have been a few times when I did that and realized that it wasn’t me, but the Holy Spirit who initiated the comment. He can always recognize the good, the bad, and the ugly (or beautiful). One day a student... Read more
Happy Spouse, Happy House I’m such a bad golfer. No, really. But as they say, “happy spouse, happy house,” and sometimes one must spend a couple hours tending the romantic fire. That might mean going to the golf course, even if you’re not good at it. I have learned, in some cases, the hard way, that when two people in a relationship suddenly have nothing in common, the relationship burns out. This can happen when the children grow up and... Read more
If Jesus Bought Our Peace In this world of chaos, every “expert” from Oprah to Dr. Phil, to every counseling service on the planet, wants to offer the “secret to achieving peace.” It’s no secret that the scriptures offer us peace. John 16:33 -I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 ~ Now may the Lord of... Read more
The Pursuit of Happiness “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776). American children learn the words early in life. They hear them quoted often and for many reasons; they are taught in history classes, sometimes earlier than junior high. But what is “the pursuit... Read more
Jesse Owens Last week we celebrated Juneteenth. It was extremely hot out, so most of our day was spent watching documentaries on television. By mid-afternoon, I was tired of “academic” television, so I asked Marty if we couldn’t please change the channel. He agreed, but said he wanted to come back to it to watch the program about Jesse Owens. I have never been so glad. That documentary included a story of the 1936 Olympic trials that I had... Read more
There is a trend across social media right now that I find greatly disturbing–the use of filters and apps that many of my friends (particularly the young women) use to alter their online appearance, sometimes drastically. For what it’s worth, here is my opinion about filters, apps, and blood. Apps and Filters Once upon a time, it seemed like a fun thing to “cartoon” oneself. It was amusing to add mouse ears or cat eyes, or even to distort... Read more
7 Ingenious Parenting Hacks The hardest job in the world is parenting. I think most parents will agree on that. Parenting can initiate the most blessed moments of our lives, but it can also spur the most stressful and confusing moments. No child is the same; no parent is the same; and no family dynamic comes together the same; therefore, there is no book in human history (no, not even the Bible) that has every answer for parents who... Read more
This is NOT my story. It is Charles (Chuck) Colson’s story. It appeared in the January 1995 issue of Guideposts magazine. I’m not sure when I heard it for the first time, but I am sure that over the years it has come to mind many... Read more
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