To keep an open mind and fully underscore our value systems, I believe it is important to listen to both sides of an argument. Learn the merits of civil debate. As a writer, I research and analyze characters, settings, and the ever-changing plotlines of life. The power of the story. The current story we humans […]
What Jesus Would NOT Do Read More »
It was bittersweet as we began dividing up Mom’s things. She no longer needed a cabinet full of Tupperware containers, pots and pans, or silverware from her fifty years of marriage. She would never cook again or put away leftovers. Still, memories clung to so many of her kitchen items. In one cabinet, the cast
The Value of a Cast Iron Pot Read More »
She reached out to touch my hand, her pudgy toddler fingers soft and warm. Dark brown Hispanic eyes twinkled with joy as we played peek-a-boo around her mother’s shoulder. I would have given her mother $20 to let me hold this precious daughter. But then maybe the spell of our game would have ended. We
Blessings from the Littles Read More »
Have you noticed we’re almost halfway through 2024? Time indeed passes quickly, especially as we age. But really — don’t the months seem to flip through the calendar faster than before? I’ve pondered the passage of time and the possibility of something unique happening. A verse in Matthew 24:22 reminds us how difficult the last
The friend request from some guy I did not know made it through my Facebook filter. He only requested a reciprocal ‘friending,’ so I thought . . . Okay. I’ll confirm this person’s request. Maybe he wants to know about my newest book. Click. Accept. Then came his first post. “You are so-o-o-o beautiful.” GAG!
Where shall I go, God? Where do you want me to live? How can I serve you best? What is your perfect plan for me? These types of questions often plague us because we focus so strongly on what we should do—how productive we should be—rather than what God truly desires for us. During my
The Search for God’s Longing Read More »
The puzzle I finished reflected the colors and designs of the Southwest. Turquoise moccasins. Native American pottery. A sunset of desert textures. Yet beyond the stress-relieving act of fitting those puzzle pieces together, God taught me precious lessons of faith. Think About the Big Picture. Once I found the borders of the puzzle, several other
Action Steps from a Puzzle Read More »
When we observe Holy Week, we often focus on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. But a spiritually important topic emerges on what I call ‘Silent Saturday.’ Imagine those early Jesus followers in the first century. Their champion had been brutally murdered by the Roman empire at the instigation of the Jewish religious leaders.
Many of us Jesus-followers no longer use the identifier of ‘Christian,’ because it has been so misused within the last several years. But if you are looking for those who follow the teachings of Jesus, how do you find them? You follow the path of nature. You look for the fruit. We identify fruit trees
How to Identify a Christian Read More »
What is the difference between the pain of growing and the pain of suffering? Neither type of pain is comfortable and most of us try to avoid all pain. We want life to be struggle free, even if we have to ask the doctor for a prescription to ease our suffering. But is there a
Finding Hope in the Pain Read More »