Robert Hurtgen
Robert Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more of him at robhurtgen.wordpress.com.
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Don't be afraid of change (3/16/24)The most terrifying combination of letters are C-H-A-N-G-E. Change ignites feelings of losing control and sparks fears of an unknown future. In your organization, change can kindle concerns over a loss of your job or the opposite: more work on top of what you are already struggling to complete. Despite the emotions accompanying change, change cannot be avoided. Briefly, then, what are some principles that help navigate change?...
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God knows what we need (3/2/24)Psalm 20:4 is a prayer of blessing; "May he (God) grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!" (ESV.) This blessing prayer is from one to another, hoping they will experience a better tomorrow. I've thought a lot about this verse and how it affects me as a husband, a father and a friend. I want to encourage you with some reflections on this psalm...
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The importance of focus (2/17/24)I have been reading a book about being "indistractable." According to the author, the ability to focus amongst a sea of distractions is the next superpower distinguishing you from your peers. The ability to pay attention is really worth paying attention to...
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One more hug (2/3/24)I remember walking out of the room of the nursing home with the nagging feeling that I may never see her again. For a moment, I thought I should go back and hug her. Tell her that I love her. But I didn't. The family was leaving, it was getting late, and I was overreacting...
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Don't quit (1/20/24)In 2019, Strava, a social network for athletes, conducted an extensive research project on New Year's Resolutions, discovering that 80% of those who set new goals quit them by the second Friday in January -- nationaltoday.com/quitters-day/. Designating Jan. 12, 2024, as National Quitters Day...
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The beautiful stories that flaws can tell (1/6/24)The letters and emails I write follow the format my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Taylor, taught me. A greeting, a body, a closing, followed by my signature. I had not thought much about how I conclude my correspondence until recently reading the history of the word "sincerely."...
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Simeon (12/23/23)One of the perhaps less popular events in the Christmas story is the blessing of Simeon in Luke 2:22-35. Many of us, even if we rarely darken a church and our Bibles are covered in dust, are vaguely familiar with the Christmas story of the shepherds abiding in their fields, the magi coming from the east, and of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger. Fewer, however, I contend, are familiar with an older man named Simeon...
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A great time of year, except when it isn't (12/9/23)Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, except when it isn't. Stress, family tension and especially grief can all steal away the joy of the holiday season. Many then will feel guilty that they are not enjoying what is supposed to be the most joyous time of year. How can you navigate the Christmas season when you are also in a season of grief?...
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Thankfulness leads to happiness (11/22/23)Off and on this past year, I have taken on the study of happiness. If that sounds particularly strange, concerning or even narcissistic, I hope to set you at ease. Studying happiness in no way implies that I am, nor was I unhappy. Examining happiness has been a personal and pastoral exercise, delving into theology, neurology and social science and observing common themes and practices that develop and foster happiness. ...
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What are your priorities? (11/4/23)The leaves have changed colors, the trick-or-treaters have collected as much candy as possible, and most of the Midwest has just been reminded that winter is coming. The busiest time of year has officially begun! Instead, though, of being the busiest season, it could be bountiful. Instead of a schedule stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey, you could have time for what matters to you...
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Ceremonies matter -- even small ones (10/21/23)In one week I officiated two funerals, a wedding and a deacon ordination and attended my first Quinceañera. What a week! Four ceremonies each with a distinct purpose. Attending these ceremonies has prompted some reflection on the significance of ceremonies...
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Change is all around us (10/7/23)In the New Testament letter Titus, the namesake is charged to be a change agent in the church and the place he serves. The instructions he is given lend us a model of how to bring change in our lives and the places we live. Two of the several critical components of change are impact and culture...
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Who are your priorities? (9/23/23)Some new phones are coming out. At one point in time, I would have been excited. Not anymore. Unlike their predecessors, these new phones boast that they are faster, stronger and have better features than their previous designs and competitors. No matter their differences, they all have one common trait: they compete for my time and attention. Time and attention are two priceless commodities that are far too easily given away...
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Growth mindset (9/9/23)Most people fall into one of two categories of thinking. Either they possess a fixed mindset, which, like its name, is rigid viewing of essential matters -- such as intelligence, talent and abilities -- as stable and unchangeable. A growth mindset, on the other hand, is fluid, seeing the previous essentials as adaptable. Your capacity to develop a growth mindset can be the difference between breaking and thriving. Especially when responding to change...
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Tyranny of the urgent (8/26/23)Early into our marriage, my wife and I participated in a newlywed small group at our church. The leaders of our group were a couple who had been married for more than 30 years, which seemed like a lifetime to a group in their 20s. Once a month our group would gather to discuss the Bible and how to build a God honoring life and marriage. One evening our conversation involved a booklet printed in 1967 titled "Tyranny of the Urgent" by Charles E. Hummel...
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Be a light in a dark world (8/12/23)Before social media was in our hands, Jesus called his followers to be influencers. An influencer has the ability, through their knowledge, expertise and personality, to direct people's behaviors, create trends and change the atmosphere of an environment. Jesus declares that those who follow him are influencers; they are the "light of the world" (Matthew 4:14.)...
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Our time is limited -- make it count (7/15/23)Oliver Burkeman, in his New York Times bestseller "Four Thousand Weeks; Time Management for Mortals", writes a jarring first sentence: "The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short." Time is limited. The real problem is that while we know we have a limited supply of time, we live as if our days are inexhaustible. ...
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On loving where you live (7/1/23)As a Christian and a pastor, I turn to the Bible to help make sense of life. The Bible tells us that whether you live in Australia, Argentina or anywhere in between, you can love where you live. While borders do not bind God and welcome people from every tribe, tongue and nation, loving the uniqueness of where you call home is both right and encouraged. ...
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Fathers play an important role (6/17/23)Father's Day has been historically connected to a memorial service conducted in a church in West Virginia that, in 1908, chose to honor the men who died in a mining disaster the previous December. Perhaps unrelated, the following year, a woman raised by a widower named Sonora Smart Dodd rallied churches, businesses and the YMCA to establish a holiday similar to Mother's Day. On June 19, 1910, Washington State was the first to sponsor a statewide holiday for fathers...
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What will outlast your life? (6/3/23)Every person, in every place and at every time, shares one common problem -- we are all constrained to the same 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No more. No less. When your time is exhausted, you cannot acquire more. The constraint of time in our lives forces us to face the reality that we cannot do everything. ...
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Proper use, control of fear (5/20/23)As a kid, we lived in a house with a basement straight out of a horror movie. Not only was there a constant wet smell, and its stone walls seemed to crumble every time you touched them, the only light was a pull chain and a bulb at the bottom of the stairs. As a result, the basement was dark, damp and smelled...
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As graduation approaches, what's next? (5/6/23)In the next few weeks, my family, like so many others, will be celebrating our graduation. Graduation ceremonies and all the events surrounding them invoke feelings of pride and joy in graduates and families alike. While most graduates dream of their future, many parents are reflecting on and evaluating their lives. One group dreams about their future, while the other questions their present. Both are wondering, "What's next?"...
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Maintaining life's margin (4/22/23)You need some margin in your life. That is the message I regularly hear. If you regularly run late and forget essentials, you may also need some margin. Every kindergartener knows margins are the lines you color within. Rewards are then distributed for the ability to stay within the margins. However, adults are encouraged to ignore the margins producing a populace rich with frustration, burnout, and exhaustion...
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Three reasons to go to church (4/8/23)April 9, 2023, is Easter Sunday. Despite wide reporting of declining church attendance, 62% of Americans plan to attend church on Easter. (Frank Newport, "Six in 10 Americans attend Church This Easter," Gallup, March 25, 2005, news.gallup.com/poll/15376/Six-Americans-Attend-Church-Easter.aspx) In a short column, I aim to give three reasons why you should attend church regularly -- even if you're not sure you believe anything about the Christian faith. ...
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The Bible — down to earth (3/25/23)The Bible is intensely practical. Yes, it is complex, easily misunderstood and often misapplied. Even Peter, one of Jesus' apostles, agrees with its difficulty and ease of manipulation (2 Peter 3:15 -- 16.) However, the Bible is also exceptionally down-to-earth. ...
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Reflections on funerals (3/11/23)I have been the officiating pastor for 12 funerals in the past three months. Nearly one a week. From the young life cut short by an overdose to the older woman who radiated joy, all have shared a common theme. Life, whether nine minutes or 99 years, is too short. I pen these words with a dual purpose. First, to purge my thoughts and to appeal you to take the brevity of your life seriously...
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Making it through the tough spots (2/25/23)There are some lies and some truths we believe about God. Often, the truth and lie become so intertwined that it is hard to distinguish between them. Statements such as "the apple of your eye", "God helps those who help themselves" or "He will never give you more than you can handle." Yet when the recently released Hebrews left Egypt enslavement, they quickly learned that God could give them more than they could handle...
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What is life without love? (2/11/23)Love is unnecessary. We live in a world in which human connection is becoming a relic. A memory. A matter in which a crotchety character from another holiday would say, "Good riddance." Why entangle the necessities of living -- food, housing, entertainment -- with the complications of romance and relationships? Just buy your own flowers and be done with the whole matter...
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Never to old to learn (1/28/23)I have often been told that it is important to learn something new every day. Learning something new every day seems a bit exhausting and daunting, however, continuing to learn has been shown to benefit your health, increase your confidence, and keeps you engaged. ...
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Taking that first step (1/14/23)We are almost halfway there. When this column prints, we will be almost halfway through January 2023. The next few days may be the make-or-break week for your new year's resolutions. A poll of 2,000 Americans reveals that, on average, most resolutions are discarded within 32 days of making them. Sticking to the habits accompanying the goals you want to reach is more critical this week than you may have known. So I want to offer some encouragement to help you in the new year...
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Toxic haste (12/17/22)The pastor was preaching his annual Christmas sermon about the shepherds watching their flocks by night. A little boy leaned over to his mother in the church pew, whispering, "I know the shepherd's name." He had mom's attention. She whispered to her intuitive son, "How do you know his name?"...
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Fight for joy (12/3/22)You need to fight for joy. Wage war against malaise and malcontent by choosing to rejoice in the Lord, who transcends the headlines of the 24-hour news cycle. That is what the prophet Habakkuk learned. The brief pages of Habakkuk, while absent tales of little towns, shepherds and heavenly hosts, tell us of a joy that outlasts the Christmas season. ...
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Practicing Thanksgiving (11/19/22)The week of Thanksgiving can often be a flurry and frenzy of activities. Traveling near and far to visit family. Trips to the market to get supplies. Another trip when you forgot that one ingredient. Thanksgiving can be a blur causing hosts to promise, "Someone else is hosting next year!" Until next year comes...
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Practice thankfulness -- past, present, future (11/5/22)Paul, writing to distressed people in the city of Thessalonica, instructs them, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18, NLT.) Thankfulness is not conditional. Being grateful is more than a state of mind or heart. Being thankful is not only an action to take but also God's desire for your life and wellbeing. There are many ways to practice thankfulness in all things. Allow me to offer three...
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Do good for those you love (10/22/22)Joab was surrounded. The army before him was overwhelming. Behind him was one of a similar scale (1 Chronicles 19:10 -- 15.) His response offers some actions to emulate when we, like him, do not see any solutions to our problems. First, he tells his brother and those with them to "be strong." When you act strong, you feel strong. ...
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The extravagance of a letter (10/8/22)A man who attended a funeral that I officiated wrote me a letter. He could have sent an email or a text message. Yet by sending a handwritten letter, he communicated more value than just the words on the page. Paul, who by the Holy Spirit wrote most of the New Testament, shared, "I, Paul, write this greeting with my hand. ...
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Running your own race (9/24/22)We have become one of those "running" families. My daughters, niece and nephew run cross country. I am currently training for an event later this year. When Thanksgiving rolls around, most in my family will run a Turkey Day 5K. Yes, we are one of "those" families...
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Remembering Sept. 11, 2001 (9/10/22)Like most, I remember exactly where I was the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I was with my family and some friends while my father-in-law was undergoing surgery. He went under anesthesia, knowing the world in one way, waking to something completely different...
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Sometimes, you need to say 'no' (8/27/22)Almost everything we see and experience in life, absent intentionality, moves from simple to complex. For example, the simple peanut butter sandwich you fixed for lunch becomes more complex when you weigh the options. What type of bread should you have? Wheat, whole grain or sourdough? How about the topping? Grape jelly, strawberry, top it off with a banana? Finally, the greatest debate since the Earl of Sandwich; chunky or creamy peanut butter. The answer is obvious -- chunky...
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Give to gain (8/13/22)Service. Sacrifice. Surrender. Those words speak volumes to us, and we admire those who possess those traits; however, most of us do not want to be the model of those traits. Most would rather conquer than surrender. We would rather be the guest of honor than the one servicing the tables. ...
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For everything, there is a season (7/30/22)In my household, summer is quickly coming to a close. My family still operates around the school year calendar. We know that when August rolls around, we have a week, maybe two, to wrap up our summer plans before school sports practices and classes begin. Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything, there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1.) Let me offer a couple of ways to make the most of the few weeks before summer unofficially ends...
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Everyone's contribution counts (7/16/22)There is a story from 1 Samuel 30, where the village where David, his army and their families lived was raided. The attacking army burned the town and took their wives and children into captivity and other items. When David and the army discovered their home in ruins and their families missing, they wept and set out on a great quest to return what had been taken...
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Three helpful life filters (7/2/22)The most critical choices you will make in your life are not the big ones. Big decisions include college, who to marry, what job to take and where to live. However, the small accumulating actions end up having the most significant impact on the scope and direction of your life...
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Avoid distractions (6/18/22)You need a distraction-free life. A life riddled with distractions is a life doomed for disaster. In 2019 over 3,100 people were killed, and distracted drivers in the United States injured about 424,000 people. We are living in an age of distraction. ...
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Conflict is part of life (6/4/22)If you have ever had a relationship with anyone, you have experienced conflict. Children argue on the playground. There are people in your life whose relationships were never the same because of disagreements. Unfortunately, we will never be conflict-free on this side of heaven. But we can learn to address the conflict in our lives. The Bible in Matthew 18, Acts 15, and 1 Corinthians 6 give us some strategies to address our interpersonal conflicts...
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Success goes to those who show up (5/21/22)My daughter and I recently ran a half-marathon together. It was her first half-marathon and longest distance she has run. We had a perfect day for running. The morning began in the mid-30s, and as the sun rose, the temperatures hovered in the mid-40s. We ran the route together and just had a great day. She even won first in her age group. She was, however, the only one her age in her age group. But she still came in first. Her prize is a reminder that success goes to those who show up...
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Mom's name (5/7/22)My best friend's mother joined the church I serve. Of course, anytime anyone joins the church, it is exciting. She is my best friend's mom. So her joining was extra special. In my church, people walk an aisle at the end of the service and tell the pastor they want to join the church. The pastor, me, then introduces them to the congregation. However, there was one problem when my best friend's mom joined the church...
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Interrupted (4/23/22)Simon of Cyrene's life was interrupted. He traveled more than 180 miles from North Africa to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the New Testament does not give us his backstory nor tell us why Simon was in Jerusalem. What we know is that the reason he came to Jerusalem was interrupted. An interruption that completely changed his life now and for eternity...
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Assumptions never bring clarity (4/9/22)It is easy to assume that others have understood you. Assuming your spouse heard you can often lead to a longer and louder discussion. You can assume your gas tank is full only to be greeted by the "get gas dummy" light. When have you assumed something about a friend only to be sorely disappointed. Assumptions never bring clarity...
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Calming the storm (3/26/22)Once my family and I were evacuated from an oncoming hurricane. I have experienced cleaning up and rebuilding from the severe destruction a hurricane caused to an island. Living in the Midwest, we are prone to flooding. My oldest daughter missed more than 10 weeks of school during her senior year due to fall floods, winter ice and snow and spring flooding. All to say, water both sustains and destroys...
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On the matter of time (3/12/22)Daylight savings time begins with springing our clocks forward. The change of an hour may not seem like much, but can be deadly for some. A 2015 study found that heart attacks immediately following the daylight savings change rose by 2%. Twenty percent for those 65 and older. ...
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How to maintain thriving relationships (2/26/22)ºHaving thriving relationships is the most joyful, life-giving and the most challenging task on earth. Spouses can be in conflict and uncertain why. Parents love their children even when they get on their last nerve. Friends and co-workers bicker but cannot identify the source of their conflict. ...
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Valentine's Day coming up quickly (2/12/22)Valentine's Day is Monday. Time is running short to make an Valentine's Day impression on the ones you love. Men, let me give you some unsolicited advice. There are three days a year, four if you are married, you need to show up and demonstrate you care: birthday, Christmas, anniversary if married and Valentine's Day. Yes, I know those flowers die. Doesn't matter. Flowers die, your truck will rust out, show the one you love you care about them. Anyway, back to the column...
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Jesus is the foundation (1/15/22)On June 27, 2009, the 13-story Lotus Riverside apartment complex in Shanghai, China, collapsed fully intact. A combination of digging for a garage, a large pile of dirt and heavy rains snapped the foundation pylons, causing the building to fall, leaving most windows and doors intact. ...
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A lion in my garage (1/1/22)I finally tackled some of my "honey-do" projects. Some I had put off for years. Those projects hung over my head like a great weight. I felt guilty for not getting them done and had no answer when they would be finished. I was frustrated. Though she would never show it, I knew my wife was frustrated, too. For some reason, in my mind, the energy it took to tackle just one of them was overwhelming...
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What did Mary know? (12/18/21)The song "Mary Did You Know" has become one of recent history's most popular Christmas songs. The song's author began composing the lyrics in 1984 while mulling over questions he would have asked Mary. Finally, after seven years of fine-tuning, music was written, and the first recording released. Since then, the song has been sung in numerous churches and recorded by hundreds of artists...
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Squeezing out Christmas (12/4/21)I wrote a note on the December page of my analog calendar that read, "Warning! December fills up fast." My prophetic sticky note proved true. A plethora of activities now surrounds the few events I had on the calendar. The busyness of December has prompted the idea of rewriting the Andy Williams Christmas song to say, "It's the most busiest time of the year."...
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Give thanks (11/20/21)Psalm 9:1 says, "I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." This psalm gives us three essentials when it comes to giving thanks. First, giving thanks is critical. No doubt you could easily create a "not-thankful for" list. What we need encouragement to do, what is harder to do, is to give thanks. Giving thanks is a decision is beyond circumstances. A decision impacting your health, demeanor and faith...
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Honoring our veterans (11/6/21)My Granddad served during the end of World War II. He left the Kentucky farm and his new bride to serve in the U.S. Army. The unit he was a part of was shipped to Germany as the war ended. Like so many others in the years since, he sacrificed greatly in serving the United States of America...
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Consider your ways as year closes (10/23/21)October is the month of fear. Scary movies, haunted houses, ghosts, goblins and zombies. The scariest thing about October, though, is not the 5-year-old dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West but that there are at this time of writing fewer than 75 days left in 2021. The shortness of days makes today the perfect time to consider your ways...
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Alignment is the key (10/9/21)I took our van to the shop to have the tires rotated and the alignment checked. Tested and repaired, the van was back on the road. But, unfortunately, a few weeks went by, and the van was out of alignment again. After incorrectly thinking and foolishly asking if she had run into a curb or a giant squirrel, I took it back to the same shop. They probably thought the same thing about the squirrel, then gladly took my money and repaired the van...
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Varying degrees of conflict (9/25/21)Conflict is inevitable. The best of friends can disagree. You can measure the impact of conflict on a scale ranging from the least impactful to the dissolution of relationships. The least impactful conflicts can center on divides on sports teams, the best vacation spots, which make of truck is the best. ...
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Big view of God (9/11/21)My wife and I recently took a trip where we ascended 178 stairs to the gallery of a 148-foot-tall lighthouse. Once we caught our breath, the view took it. We could see for miles. The height gave us a bigger perspective of everything around us. Possessing a big view of God has a similar effect...
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Faith lessens worry (8/28/21)I am thinking about hiring someone to mow my yard. The idea grates on me and wounds my masculine pride. The yard seems to mocks me, "If you were a real man, I wouldn't look like this." It's my yard! I should be able to whip it into submission. I thought about my grass dilemma after reading Psalm 127:1-3. ...
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How to help your kids get ready for school this year (8/14/21)My children have been asking me questions about the next school year. Questions such as, "What is going to happen?"; "What might happen?"; and "What the worst-case scenario could be?" The everyday stress from the start of a new school year is amplified. ...
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Success is more than being successful (7/31/21)The king of Psalm 72 prays for success, wealth, and influence. He asks for a vast dominion (vs. 8). That people around the world would submit to him (vs. 9, 11), and he would be brought gifts of gold (vs. 15), and nations would call him blessed (vs. 17). The king is asking for a life of influence, wealth, and success. There are two priorities that the prayer of Psalm 72 gives us...
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Having confidence in your decisions (7/17/21)Many of us feel plagued with a sense of overwhelm and dread. The future is uncertain. Decisions you confidently made are now having some unintended consequences of devastating effects. Perhaps you can echo the words of the psalmist in Psalm 69:1, "I feel as if I am about to drown." The psalmist who is overwhelmed describes several actions he takes to thrive when he feels that everyone and everything was against him. ...
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Price of freedom (7/3/21)My Grandad grew up on a tobacco farm in western Kentucky. He spent his boyhood days planting, harvesting, drying and smoking tobacco. Shortly after he and my Granny were married, he shipped off to Germany to fight for the cause of freedom. The story handed down is a cease-fire was declared while crossing the Atlantic en route to the combat zone, changing his and his unit's mission from combat to peacekeeper. ...
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The Lord is my shepherd (6/19/21)I cannot count the number of times I have read or recited Psalm 23. I have read these verses at funerals, graveside services and at the feet of those who were dying. Each of those locations is appropriate for the 23rd Psalm brings comfort and security in troubled times. ...
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Know where you want to go (6/5/21)In "Alice in Wonderland," Alice comes to a fork in the road asking the Cheshire Cat which way she should go. The mysterious cat replies, "That depends a good deal on where you want to go." "I don't much care where," says Alice. "Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," rebuffs the cat...
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Put character first (5/22/21)My calendar has been flooded with graduation parties marking the closing of one chapter in someone's story and another beginning. These are exciting times to celebrate accomplishments and chase your dreams. It matters just as much how you chase your dreams as the vision itself...
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Hannah sacrificed as a mother does (5/8/21)Looking at the Bible through the lens of Mother's Day brings several women into the spotlight. Women such as Eunice instilled the gospel into her son, Timothy, Paul's protege in ministry. Women such as Elizabeth, whose son, John the baptizer, prepared the way for the Lord. Women such as Mary, the mother of Jesus, experience the joy and agony of her son's ministry. The woman Hannah also comes to mind. A woman who knew sorrow sought the Lord and fulfilled her vows to Him...
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Surrender (4/24/21)We see God move in our lives, not when we try to do more and be more. We see God move in our lives when we surrender to him. One of the most outstanding examples of a surrendered life is Abraham. In Genesis 12:1 -- 3, Abraham, Abram at the time, demonstrated a heart of surrender. His demeanor illustrates how God uses men and women today. I want to highlight some traits of a surrendered life...
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What is your cause? (4/10/21)One of the most significant challenges for every generation is having a great cause. Something worthy of personal sacrifice. As Roosevelt challenged his audience, "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena," credit goes to the one who strives for what is greater than them...
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Three reasons not to weep this Easter (3/27/21)"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Angels asked of the women who came to the tomb of Jesus that first Easter morning (Luke 24:5). There are three actions taken from this question. First, the question calls for an investigation. Luke describes two men in dazzling apparel, angels, observing that these women are looking for something. "Why do you seek ...," the interrogation begins. More specifically, who do you seek?...
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Finding God through nature (3/13/21)My family and I were returning home from a quick road trip at the end of February when much to our surprise we encountered the snow moon. The moon, fully exposed, was in a stunning bright orange radiance. The snow moon was centered over the highway. Driving uphill, we felt that we were going to exit onto the surface of the moon. We were all captured by the rare and beautiful moment...
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Influence from generations unknown (2/27/21)Recently I received a copy of my distant grandfather's immigration papers. He arrived in the United States from Prussia in 1854. I have relished having a copy of this piece of my family's history. Of the many things this copy of immigration papers means, it also is a stark reminder of how my life will impact a generation I will never know. Just as my distant grandfather shaped me...
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One letter changes everything (2/13/21)The difference between "married" and "marred" is the letter "i." The word marred means to damage, spoil, disfigure, or scar. The word married evokes images of love, happiness, pleasure and family. One little "i" makes a tremendous difference In every relationship, especially in marriage, the "i" you bring can be the difference between thriving and spoilage. ...
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Finding your adventurous faith (1/30/21)Remember the song "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf. "Heading out on the highway, looking for adventure, whatever comes your way, you were born to be wild." Nearly anytime someone in a movie, TV shows or commercial takes off and does something adventurous, the soundtrack starts. ...
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Living generously (1/16/21)What if I told you there was one habit you could build into your life that would have a cascading impact both on you and those around you. A habit essential but not exclusive to the Christian faith. A habit that can lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, help you live longer, and lift your mood. ...
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On turning to a new year (1/2/21)There are a few Bible verses that I like to look over at the closing of one year and the beginning of the new. One of those verses is Psalm 90:12, which reads, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." There are a couple of principles from this verse that direct our thoughts towards a new year...
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Look for the praiseworthy (12/19/20)Frank Constanza introduced a nation to Festivus and the "Airing of Grievances." "I've got a lot of problems with you people," he shouted, "and now you are going to hear about it." Let the barrage of disappointments, frustrations and bitterness commence...
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Gifts for one another (12/5/20)Some of the best gifts we give cost us much, but we do not buy them. The over 50 "one another" phrases in the New Testament prescribe actions we take as gifts to each other. Phrases like "encourage one another" (1 Thess. 5:11), "bear with one another" (Eph. 4:2), forgive one another (Eph. 4:32), and love one another (1 John 3:11). Simple but powerful gifts...
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A change in perspective (11/21/20)My son and I bought a black lemon. No, we did not find a new type of citrus. We purchased a black, twenty-year-old car that quit while driving home. After being thoroughly scrutinized by a mechanic who produced a miles long list of issues, we finally towed the black lemon home. I was now ready to throw my hands up in despair, cry out foul, lessons learned and quickly dispose of the car at the closest auto salvage yard...
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Time to practice humility (11/7/20)We have been studying 1 Peter at my church on Sunday mornings. This week's text is 1 Peter 5:6 which reads, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." The character trait of humility is a difficult one to wrap our heads around. ...
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What do you want to do with your life? (10/24/20)"What do you want to do with your life?" It seems like a fundamental question that many have been trying to answer since before their preschool days. Some are currently on their way to their retirement party, still trying to answer that question. But it is the wrong question...
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Where hospitality begins (10/10/20)Martin Luther was once asked what he would do if he knew the end was coming today. "He replied that he would plant a tree and pay his taxes." (Schriener, Thomas R. The New American Commentary; 1, 2, Peter, Jude, [Nashville, Broadman and Holman, 2003], 211.)...
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Choose today whom you will serve (9/26/20)I needed to replace a toilet seat in the bathroom. In case you were wondering, toilet seats do not make good stepstools. I went to my local big-box hardware store to pick one up -- a simple errand. I did not know and did not expect the big box hardware store to have more than 45 toilet seats. Forty-five!...
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Count your days (9/12/20)September is the perfect time of year to evaluate your life and plan for the remaining months. Even amid a global pandemic when the only thing you can depend on is you cannot depend on anything. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "In preparing for battles, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." Eisenhower and countless others have discovered that planning is critical, especially when the environment is uncertain...
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Doing good benefits all (8/29/20)Another prominent leader has been discovered to not be who they said they were. They were not living out the values that they claimed to hold. They were not victims of the cancel culture but of grotesque hypocrisy. Sadly, each of us can place a different image to the previous description. ...
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Changing of the seasons (8/15/20)I drive past a beautiful maple tree nearly every day. The tree is not very large, but season after season, it possesses the deepest green leaves that will give way every fall to brilliant red. As I am writing this in early August, I am shocked to have seen that the leaves are already changing colors. Change is coming. Again...
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An example for us all (8/1/20)Each of us has people in our lives we look to as examples. That social media influencer, the DIY tutorial on the video streaming service or the person from history who overcame tremendous odds all serve as illustrations of those we look to -- men and women who influence our decisions, our likes and dislikes. Good examples can help us live well by calling us up to a higher level of excellence and achievement. Jesus is an example for us all, faith or not, in three ways...
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What do you value? (7/18/20)Your values define what is most important to you. Those values are most clearly seen when pressed and stressed. Stephen Covey wrote, "Begin each day with the blueprint of my deepest values FIRMLY in mind then when challenges come, make decisions BASED on those values." What you value, and acting on them, will build the life you desire...
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Freedom comes with responsibilities (7/4/20)When I was 12, I was trapped, and it was my fault. I was riding a three-wheeler ATV with some friends down a gravel road. The combination of inexperience, loose gravel and exhilaration caused the ATV to flip and land on top of me. The frame pinned my helmeted head to the ground while the hot engine seared my skin. The freedom of the open throttle became a snare...
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Fathers play important role (6/20/20)None of the men in my life has had such a profound impact on me as my father. The Bible teaches what modern psychology has affirmed: Fathers, and those men who step into the lives of young people as father figures, matter. (Sean Rossman, "Why Dads Matter, according to science," USA Today, June 13, 2017, usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/13/why-dads-matter-according-science/377125001/.) Ephesians 6:4 reads, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." There are four principles from this verse for fathers of every era.. ...
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Above all else, there is love (6/6/20)What we love, who we love, and how we love them are a direct response to the love of God in our lives. In 1 Peter 1:22, we read, "You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters." There are some principles in this verse applied to loving actions...
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I will survive (5/23/20)Do you remember the song "I will survive?" As soon as you hear pianist cascading their fingers across the keyboard, followed by the driving bass line and the drums, you cannot help but move to the sound. (I'm a Baptist, we don't dance. We move. It's different). Then the lyrics "As long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive"; certainly more in-depth significant than I am aware of. the timeless tune sung by Gloria Gainer is one of the many songs that uplift you in times of hardships...
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Happy Mother's Day... from afar (5/9/20)Today is Mother's Day. Regardless of the request for physical distancing, today is a day to honor your mother. Women sharing the image of God played an absolutely vital role in the Bible. They are celebrated. Honored. Cunning. Entrepreneurial. Yes, there are instances where women were abused and subjugated. The Bible presents those moments not as an endorsement but as evidence of our fallen world. In this column, I would like to offer three principles from the Bible for Mother's Day...
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Standing firm (4/25/20)The New Testament letter of 1 Peter is a letter of hope. Hope to people who are enduring hardships, difficulties and trials. Peter has written to people who because of their faith are being ostracized from their friends and business acquaintances. The people are being pressured to abandon their faith. ...
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Prepared, but not (4/11/20)The Bible tells us in the gospels several details on how resurrection Sunday went. The women went to the tomb at dawn, finding it empty. Two of the disciples had run to the tomb and found it empty just as the women said (Jn 20:4). Meanwhile, the chief priests and Pharisees, who rallied to have Jesus crucified, began to spread the rumor the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus from the tomb (Mt. ...
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For such a time as this (3/28/20)I doubt anyone reading this column could have imagined the rapid impac the coronavirus has made upon our lives. In less than a week's time schools have been canceled, churches learned to use streaming video, and a major city in Missouri of all places has issued a mandatory "stay-at-home" order. These are strange times...
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Three ways busyness can drain your soul (3/14/20)Ask someone how they are, and there is a good chance they will say, "I'm busy." Busyness has emerged as the status symbol of the age. Busyness fills every hour of the day with activity pressing out any sense of margin. Many are overcommitted, overscheduled and under fulfilled. The busyness they have embraced is like an addiction draining the soul...
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Sleep serves health, psyche, soul (2/29/20)Sleep is a big business these days. Rather the lack of sleep. Both traditional mattress companies and the mail order bed in a box are hoping your lack of sleep will drive you to purchase their heavenly promised sleep strategies. As a person for whom sleep can often be elusive, these advertisements are tempting. In the Bible, we can read the ability to sleep is more than a mattress strategy but a matter of the heart. There are at least two reasons why sleep matters to the soul...
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Downhill fear (2/15/20)Recently I took my son snow skiing. After we picked up our gear and took a quick lesson, we were ready to conquer the slopes. I learned two traits about fear from the ski trip. First, focusing on fear can lead to failure. Second, fear can keep me from trying...
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Bible speaks to romantic love (2/1/20)It is February, and love is in the air. The Bible has much to say about romantic love. One example comes from Ephesians 5:33, which says, "However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Highlighting a simple but complex principle, Ephesians tells us we may listen to the same sounds but often hear different messages...
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Guard what enters, marinates in your heart (1/18/20)In the past two years, I have been trying to resolve some health issues in my family. Parts of the treatment protocols have involved learning to recognize and manage stress. In the past two years, I have learned much about stress. The one aspect of stress that has surprised me most is that the body knows when it is under stress but cannot distinguish between the source of stress. ...
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Self-control a resolution worth pursuing (1/4/20)I have a list of goals for 2019 that I did not reach. Now on the cusp of a new year raging with optimism, I will list out what I want to accomplish in 2020. No. 1: Practice self-control. Proverbs 25:28 reads, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Ancient cities were walled for two purposes. The first was to keep out dangers like marauders, invading armies, wild animals, anyone or anything that could derail life as the city citizens new it...
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Familiarity can dampen meaning (12/21/19)Overexposure and familiarity to the story of Christmas can drown out its meaning. Familiarity in a marriage can dull the romance that began the relationship. Familiarity numbs us to the importance and the meaning of what we have become so accustomed to. ...
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Be purposeful this Christmas season (12/7/19)Black Friday. Over. Cyber Monday. Come and gone. We are now in the middle of the Christmas shopping frenzy. By the time this column is published, there will only be about 14 shopping days until Christmas. Or, for some, 13 days before Christmas shopping begins. Gift-giving, though, is more than exchanging packages. Gift-giving reflects a faith in the one who gave himself for us. There are some simple ways then we can reveal a theology of giving...
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Psalm guides thankfulness year 'round (11/23/19)I love the anticipation of and celebrating Thanksgiving. I am excited to gather with my family and friends. I even enjoy some of the Black Friday sales and laughing at the Thanksgiving guilt trip memes. Each year for Thanksgiving I take time to reflect on thankfulness from one of the many Psalms that encourage giving thanks. Psalm 9:1 is a great example;...
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Fear challenges Christian faith (11/9/19)One of the most significant challenges to your Christian faith is not temptation, doing the right things in the right way at the right time, nor simply not knowing the answers to difficult questions. The greatest challenge to living out a Christina faith is fear...
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What's necessary for today (10/26/19)The book of Joshua opens with some shocking news directly from the Lord. "Moses my servant is dead" (Joshua 1:2). The report is stunning to the reader, but for those who were living at the time, the news of Moses' demise is not new nor alarming. The people had just spent the previous 30 days mourning for Moses. ...
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Living a generous life (10/12/19)The late Pastor Adrian Rogers once said, "It's what you sow that multiplies, not what you keep in the barn." When we keep our time, treasures and talents hidden way, protecting them, we miss out on what can be done through them. Living a generous life is about building an abundant life by giving yourself away. ...
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Affirmation (9/28/19)Affirmation is powerful. To have someone who has identified the excellent qualities in your life and then comes alongside you to help call out a vision for your life is irreplaceable. Paul in 1 Timothy 4:4 does this for Timothy by affirming his giftedness and his capability for ministry. This one verse reveals several traits of someone who sows affirmation...
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Will the gracious people please rise? (9/14/19)The idea of being known as a gracious person seems to be contradictory to our culture today. We have sound bites used to build some up by tearing others down. On social media platforms, anyone from anywhere can say anything about anyone without a thought of the impact of their words. ...
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Lean hard on resolution (8/31/19)Conflict is inevitable. If you are going to be in a relationship with another person, you are going to disagree. Only people on sitcoms always get along, and if they do have a problem, it is resolved quickly. Life involves conflict. In Philippians 4:2-3 two women, Euodia and Syntyche, in the church were in the middle of a conflict. ...
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Press on toward Christ (8/17/19)I was running in a triathlon I had prepared months for. I was prepared for this race. I was not ready for taking wrong turns. The biking and the running portion were an open course -- meaning traffic was using the same roads the competitors were. While biking, I crested a hill the same time a truck came speeding through the intersection where I needed to turn -- focusing on the truck I missed the turn. ...
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When the mountain gets steep (8/3/19)Often, I have envisioned Abraham's call of God into the land which the Lord promised him with similar imagery to the great Oklahoma land rush -- standing at the border with the promise in hand, waiting for the sound to take what is uncharted and undeveloped but ripe with potential. The Bible often reminds me of how my ideas do not align with what has been revealed...
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The gift of rest (7/20/19)Summer is the season of vacations and downtime. A season to breathe a little deeper, sleep a little later, and linger a bit longer with those you love. Unfortunately, for many of us, those "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" look no different than the bleak and blah days of winter. ...
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Suffering is good (at least it can be) (7/6/19)Anything worth having is worth struggling for. Not the message most want to hear, and even fewer will embrace. Yet the good that comes from struggle is not just a motivation poster hung in the entryway of the local gym. The good from struggle, the good that emerges from suffering is a biblical principle that will propel your faith in ways you cannot imagine. Hardships should not be avoided but embraced...
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Courage is act of faith (6/22/19)There have been two recent anniversaries of courageous acts. First, the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy where young men parachuted behind German lines and stormed the beaches, driving back the German army from the evil perpetuated across Europe. ...
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Love God, work hard, rest well (6/8/19)Recently, and quite unexpectedly, my regular routine of the day was interrupted by a reunion with a friend who lives and works on the other side of the world. Though we did wonder how either of us are old enough to have children attending college, our conversations picked up as if no time had passed...
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Perspective needed to understand God's plans (5/25/19)I am really good at starting projects. Finishing them is another story. I am sure that I am not the only one who has this issue. Thankfully God is not that way. God always finishes what he begins. Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns" (NLT). These verses build three ways in which your confidence, your faith is increased...
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God sees you differently than you see yourself (5/11/19)May is not only for showers and flowers but also graduations. All of our graduates, high school and college, are excited about their bright futures. In Judges, Chapter 6, however, we meet a young man named Gideon who is not excited about his future. When we first meet him, he is hiding in a cave thrashing out wheat so that the marauders who are ravaging his homeland, taking and consuming all in their path, will not take this portion of food as well. Gideon is living in difficult times...
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Cures for restlessness (4/27/19)I've been coaching my daughter's volleyball team. I have two qualifications to be a volleyball coach. One, I know a little bit about volleyball. And two, I said, "Yes, I am willing to coach." Armed with my stellar coaching resume, we set off for a great season...
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Listen, pray, worship this week before Easter (4/13/19)Today is Palm Sunday. The day on the Christian calendar marking when Jesus was welcomed into the city of Jerusalem by a crowd waving palm branches, a symbol of victory, and shouting "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Easter week recalling the events of Jesus' betrayal, trial, execution by crucifixion, burial, and triumphant resurrection. For those of us who are Christians, this is a big week...
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The struggle of spring (3/16/19)My kitchen table is home to four container tulips. Each is struggling to emerge. One is showing its color. Two look like short, fat fingers sticking out of the dirt. The third is dwarfed in size, a victim of too much water, not enough sun, or both. By slowly emerging these four flowers have symbolically captured the spring that has struggled to show itself -- a reminder of the challenges we each face when we enter new seasons of life...
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The conflict within (3/2/19)There is a conflict raging within you: a conflict between what you want and what God desires for you. Not surprisingly what you want and what God desires are not always the same. Paul, who once hated the church and now by God's grace is its greatest champion, writes to the Christians in the region of Galatia, " ... ...
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We need a Jacob (2/16/19)There was a man named Jacob living in a time of famine. Hearing a rumor of food's location, he turned to his sons saying, "Why are you standing around looking at one another? I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we'll die" (Gen. 42:1-2, NLT). Sometimes to get what we need the most, we have to get up, leave where we are, and take hold of what we've been looking for...
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Realize you are a pearl (2/2/19)Everyone is looking for the "secret sauce" that makes every relationship perfect. Scan the magazine headlines at the grocery checkout, and you will see shallow promises of relationship fulfillment with titles such as, "Five Steps to Relationship Bliss," "Ten Ways to Drive Him Wild," or "Four Ways to Give Her What She Wants." Captivating titles that sell magazines but leave your relationship as empty as your bank account...
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Fear leads to unfortunate results (1/19/19)Fear can push and prompt you to do what you would never have imagined. In Chapter 12 of Genesis Abram, fresh from receiving the promises of God to be made into a great nation and a blessing to the entire world, enter into the high and mighty land of Egypt. ...
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Resolutions in the face of uncertainty (1/5/19)It's that time of year again. The time of year when many of us boldly vow that this year will be the year we've always dreamed of. The year where those extra pounds come off. The year of deep and meaningful relationships. This year we will finally learn to speak Spanish, paint with watercolors, or master whatever hobby that has slowly alluded our grasps...
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A visit with (plastic) St. Nick (12/22/18)'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except me and my spouse. The promise we made at Christmas last year was not to buy gifts with assembly required. Yet here we were again up late, excruciatingly tired...
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Four reasons to sing Christmas carols (12/8/18)Now that we are officially a few weeks away from Christmas Day, there should be no reason not to sing Christmas Carols, though some of us are still reluctant to sing. I would like to offer four reasons to sing Christmas Carols, even if your singing is a bit off key...
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The beauty of giving (11/24/18)Let the shopping begin! Well, continue. Without shopping, there can be no gift giving. When it comes to the art of discerning what type of gift to get combined with the hunt of finding the right gift and staying within a budget, to echo the great Sherlock Holmes, "the game is afoot." I would like to offer three guides to gifts for Christmas 2018...
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Recognizing veterans' sacrifice (11/10/18)Today, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Officially Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. A proclamation under President Woodrow Wilson marking the end of World War I at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. However, President Eisenhower signed a bill on June 1, 1954, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day which included all U.S. ...
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Finding solace in life's last quarter (10/13/18)I want to introduce you to Olivia. To borrow from a football motif, Olivia is not only in the last quarter of her life; she is in the final two minutes of the last quarter of her life. Her body is constantly riddled with pain. Her mind is a battleground of emotions. ...
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Faith on television (9/29/18)I don't watch much TV. That's more a confession than boasting. Most of the time I would rather be doing something else. Recently though I have been watching more TV, and I've noticed how matters of faith are front and center on the small screen. Perhaps, though, issues of faith being on the small screen is not an exception. As I said, I don't watch much TV. Matters of faith being presented through television sitcoms and dramas speaks to at least three issues about our culture at large...
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Getting in tune with God (9/15/18)My alarm clock has a radio that I occasionally listen to. I do not listen to the alarm clock radio because either of where I live or where the radio is placed in my home I have difficulty tuning in the frequency that I want to listen to. When I do use the radio, I move the dial slowly to pick up the station. If I am out of sync, even a little, all I receive is static...
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Three ways to pray for your friends (9/1/18)Friendship is one of those things of life that you do not appreciate until you no longer have it. In the Bible, the third letter of John is an expression of deep fondness from one friend to another. John the Apostle, one who was with Jesus during his ministry, to another named Gaius. There is much to celebrate in this short letter of only fifteen verses. Let us identify three principles to pray for your friends from 3 John 1:2...
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Loving those not like you (8/18/18)Loving people who are like you is easy. In the Bible, Jesus says it does you no good only to love those who love you. To only do good to those you do good to you. Only give to others what is guaranteed to be returned. Loving others, particularly those who are not like you, is risky. The Bible prescribes ways that you can love those who are not like you?...
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Share what we love (8/4/18)Sometimes I wonder, what would the social media feed of the great men and women of history be like? What type of photos would Theodore Roosevelt publish? Would Hemingway dominate Twitter? What would Jesus do on Instagram? Would Susan B. Anthony Snapchat?...
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God's presence in the plan (7/21/18)There are two sides to planning. The positive side of planning takes an idea, fleshes it out and acts on it. Like a conductor unites individual instruments into one orchestra, so you bring all the pieces of your idea together and act on them. The negative side of planning though begins similarly. ...
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Take some time for downtime (7/7/18)There is always something to do; a favor that must be done. A deadline that cannot be missed. A call, email, or text that must be made. Work easily slips into our schedule filling every gap. Without work we cannot enjoy rest, but without rest, all we are is enslaved to work...
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Be the change you wish someone would be (6/23/18)The book of Jeremiah, found in the Old Testament, speaks to people who are in a hopeless situation. Their cities destroyed. Many people have been carried off by the invading army only to find themselves living in a place they didn't like, surrounded by strange smells, odd foods, and people who were vastly different than they. Desperately wanting to go back home...
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Seeing the world (6/9/18)My sons are color-blind. They see everything around them differently than I do. According to the British website Colour Blind Awareness, one in 12 men and one in 200 women across the world are color blind. While color blindness impacts a relatively small number of people it has a significant impact on my family. ...
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Four ways to make Memorial Day memories (5/26/18)Memorial Day began as Decoration Day after the Civil War. Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971. Today Memorial Day is the official start of summer, getting together with family and friends, and remembering the men and women who died while serving in the military. Allow me to suggest four ways to make Memorial Day memories...
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A mother's influence (5/12/18)According to the National Retail Federation, 86 percent of Americans will celebrate Mother's Day, expecting to generate $23.1 billion in sales on Mother's Day gifts. Greeting cards alone are expected to exceed $813 million. In contrast American's spent an all-time high of $15.5 billion for Father's Day 2017. Maybe Moms are just easier to shop for...
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Decisions, decisions, and how to make them (4/28/18)The average American makes 35,000 decisions a day. At your local Starbucks, you have 80,000 possible choices to enjoy your coffee. Sonic, America's most famous drive-in, boasts a menu of 168,984 drink options. We do not have a shortage of opportunities...
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For all things, a season (4/14/18)The seasons seem to be confused. Places in the Midwest have received more snow this spring than they have the past winters combined. Many are ready for the winter that will never end to go away. I count myself as one of them. From our earliest elementary school days, we learn the four seasons of the year. ...
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Three reasons to celebrate Easter (3/31/18)Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The entire Christian faith hinges on the events of Easter. The bible itself goes so far to say that if the resurrection were not a reality, then faith would be pointless (1 Corinthians 15:14). Easter encompasses much. The following are three of the many benefits of Easter...
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Avoiding 'project purgatory' (3/17/18)Moses had a great project given to him by God. He was to build a Tabernacle. A place for the people to meet with God. It was to be constructed in the desert by skilled craftsmen and artisans from the most luxurious materials. When the work was finally done, one of the most precious phrases for anyone involved in any project was made: "So Moses finished the work."...
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Valuing what's most important (2/17/18)In 1845, a British arctic expedition under the leadership of Captain Sir John Franklin set sail seeking a passage around the Canadian arctic to the Pacific Ocean. The manifest of the two ships included a 12-day supply of coal for the steam engines, a 1,200-volume library, a hand organ, a china place setting, cut-glass goblets and sterling-silver flatware. The two- to three-year expedition was woefully unprepared for the journey...
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Keeping the love alive (2/3/18)The month of February means three things: soon there will be warmer days than cold, spring training begins. and Valentine's Day will be celebrated. While the Bible does not speak to Valentine's Day, it has much to say about love, marriage and cultivating our most important relationships. Between work schedules, the kids' sports and activities, and other commitments, time-starved people could really use some encouraging and simple ways to cultivate their relationships. Allow me to offer four...
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Learning to pray (1/20/18)In August 2014, LifeWay Research surveyed 1,137 Americans about the frequency and content of their prayer, and the results revealed, among other things, about half of Americans say they pray at least every day. Sometimes, though, while we may feel a desire to pray, and even tell someone our "thoughts and prayers" are with them, we are not quite certain really what that means or what to do. ...
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Stepping out from the crowd (1/6/18)Each New Year many of us determine to make changes in our lives by making resolutions. Researchers have observed that around 40 percent of Americans set New Year's resolutions. And studies continually show, year and year, only a small percentage of people keep their resolutions. Making resolutions does not seem to bring the change we want. What we need, then, are not more resolutions, but a revolution from resolutions...
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The perfect gift (12/23/17)Christmas is Monday. Gifts are under the tree, or at least hidden in the closet waiting to be wrapped. I do hope I can remember where I put everything. I've observed that there are several types of gift givers. First, there are the slow gift-givers who wait until the last moment to buy their presents. ...
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Message of the Wisemen (12/9/17)One of my favorite pieces of the Nativity story in the Bible is that of the Wisemen. Many of us are familiar with the story of the Wisemen through the Christmas song that summarizes their story; Star of wonder, star of night, star with glory beauty bright...
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The best time of year (11/26/17)The weeks that stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas and into the New Year are some of the best of the year. Yes, one can make an argument the new life of spring, the warmth of summer, or even the hibernation of fall could surpass the happy holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, but the next six weeks seem to rise above them all...
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Choosing to be thankful (11/12/17)I have many people in my life who are thankful. They celebrate others. They see opportunity where none exists and are curious about a variety of topics. Then there are other people in my life who are not thankful. They are extremely critical of themselves and everyone else. They tend to know what they know, and they think they don't need to know anything else. They don't even seem to enjoy themselves, let alone celebrate others...
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Facing difficult choices daily (10/15/17)Many of us live with the idea that somehow, someway, on its own, life will just become simpler. We say, "When my children grow up, my life will be simpler." Or, " When I finally get out of college and get my first real job, then life will be simpler." Some of us even spend years saying, "When I finally retire then life will be simpler." Unfortunately, life will never become simpler on its own. Simple is chosen, but it is never a simple choice...
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Occupied with the right things (10/1/17)The story is told in Luke's gospel of how Jesus was welcomed into the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Just like the other places Jesus went, a group soon gathered and he began to teach. Mary joined the group, sitting at Jesus' feet and listening. Martha, however, was off in the kitchen "distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40)...
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The consequences of being too busy (9/17/17)Everybody I know is busy. Parents frantically rush their kids back and forth from activity to activity. Even the retired guys I know say they are busier than they want to be. We live in this tremendous tension where our desires for a full life are completely overwhelmed by the activity of pursuing it. Worse, we've come to believe if we are not busy, we are somehow failing...
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Be a part of the solution (9/3/17)In the past week, we as a nation have seen the worst of nature and the best of humanity. Many have felt a sense of disbelief as water and wind pounded the streets of Houston, Texas. Newscasts of homes buried under water, precious belongings gone, and daring rescues all build a gnawing sense of compassion deep within us...
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The wonder of it all (8/20/17)Monday is the solar eclipse. Living right on the edge of totality, I am excited about this. For the past eight months or more, my local tourism office and news media have built up this once-in-a-lifetime event. I can purchase glasses to safely view the eclipse when I buy a gallon of milk at the grocery store. My children's teachers are planning their activities to be outside to view the eclipse...
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Awakening the children (8/6/17)Every August, parents of school-aged children find themselves in the center of a dilemma. They are forced to wake the once cute and cuddly bears from their summer hibernation to the routine of early breakfasts, backpacks and school buses. Summer is gone and the school bells are ringing again...
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Looking for solutions (7/23/17)Fear is powerful. Fear can paralyze and push. Fear can blind us to the resources we already have and possibilities before us. That spirit of fear is what Joshua, the successor to Moses, needed to face down in the people he led. In the book of Joshua (Chapter 17) lands are being divided among the Hebrew tribes. ...
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The hands of time (7/9/17)I wear a regular watch. It is black with a brown leather band and off-white stitching. It has a large minute hand, a short, fat hour hand, and a bright orange second hand ticking away moments of the day. The watch tracks the date and has some other dials that do something, though I could not tell you what...
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Pay attention and be present (6/25/17)No doubt you've probably gotten distracted in the middle of the day, decided to check your social media feed, only to find yourself being envious of your friend who is taking that vacation you always wanted to take. You've veered off course from what you need to be doing and begin to quietly sulk at what you are not doing. You're distracted and envious...
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'Booking' a vacation (6/11/17)I am getting ready to go on a vacation with my family. We are spending much time figuring out what we need to do before we leave and what we need to take to enjoy ourselves once there. There is an awful amount of work to be done for a week of rest! One question I need to answer: "What will I read on vacation?"...
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Rich in Christ (5/28/17)In March 2013, NBC news published a story about a family from New York that purchased a bowl at a garage sale for $3. The ceramic bowl, about 5 inches in diameter with a saw-tooth pattern etched around the outside, turned out to be 1,000 years old, originating from the Northern Song Dynasty which ruled China from 960 to 1127...
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A celebration of all women (5/14/17)I began writing with one notion: I will create a tribute to the women in my life. The trouble is when I began to list the women in my life, I quickly realized there were more women to be thankful for than time and space allowed. By God's favor, we each have a variety of people our lives are intertwined with. Every relationship is a tremendous blessing...
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Cleaning the clutter (4/30/17)May is one of the busiest months of my year. In the month of May, I will honor my mom, my wife and my girls on Mother's Day. I have the privilege of celebrating the high-school and college graduates in my church. And I get to recognize Memorial Day with an incredible barbecue...
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The resurrection (4/16/17)He is risen. All of Christianity hinges on those three words. The gospel accounts -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- are clear that even those who gave up everything to follow him were full of grief and fear when he was rushed to trial and executed. They grieved for Jesus, whom they loved...
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People in your neighborhood (4/2/17)For 33 years, not including reruns, Fred Rogers dawned his zippered cardigan sweater and blue sneakers welcoming boys and girls into his studio, his neighborhood and the wonderful Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Week after week, we became his neighbor, all the while being taught to be better neighbors ourselves...
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Trusting the captain (3/19/17)When I was a kid, one of my parents' favorite things to do was to pack my brother and I into the back seat of our Chrysler Cordoba and go for a drive. The Cordoba was hailed as a personal luxury coupe, and what it lacked in style and luxury, it made up for in size...
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Handling the bad days (3/5/17)One of my favorite books to read with my children is "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." The story follows one day in Alexander's life where everything goes so bad that all he wants to do is move to Australia. The reason this book is a children's classic is because everyone can relate to Alexander. ...
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The richness of giving (2/19/17)Lounging and lazily watching TV with my kids one cold Saturday morning a commercial for a new show, which is a remake of an old show, played. "Ducktails" would be back on the air. Soon I would be able to relive my childhood afternoons watching the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and the boys...
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The gift of years (2/5/17)A while back, I came across a passage from the Bible that I am certain I have read before but have never really seen. As I was enjoying the rich and sultry warmth of morning coffee, Genesis 25:8 leapt off the pages, reading, "Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people."...
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Reading daily (1/22/17)Many at the beginning of the year make it a goal to read the Bible every day. Daily reading from the scripture is a good goal. It is a goal shared by kings. In Deuteronomy 17:18--20 some instruction is given to how the future king should conduct himself. ...
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The day of small things (1/8/17)
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The joy of kept promises (12/25/16)Children's excitement for Christmas is hard to contain. They go to bed on Christmas Eve nearly bursting at the seams, waiting for the next morning. They can hardly wait to open presents, be with their family and receive the benefits from the stealthy and ever-elusive man in the red suit...
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The Christmas door (12/11/16)One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the celebration of Advent. Advent means "coming," and it is used to mark the coming of the Christ child. Advent usually begins the first Sunday after Thanksgiving and is celebrated through Christmas Eve. Each week, some, but not all, Christians in their homes and churches use Advent wreaths, on which they light one candle to mark the expected arrival of the Christ child...
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A village many traveled to see (11/27/16)This past year I officiated a funeral for a man who was, in his own way, Father Christmas. He did not have a beard or a cherry nose, but when he laughed his belly did shake like a bowl full of jelly. He was giving and kind, and children of all ages for miles and miles came to see him -- or at least his living room...
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Building a home of thankfulness (11/13/16)What would happen if instead of a day of thanksgiving we lived every day in a thankful home? Here are three ways to build a thankful home. Build a thankful home by being intentional. In Joshua 24:15, the young leader addresses a crowd concerning how they will live in their new nation...
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Finding comfort and resolve in God (10/30/16)I do not like being afraid. I never have. I do not like scary movies, nor am I a fan of television series where what is supposed to be dead does not stay dead. Not that I have not tried to watch or enjoy the horror genre of movies and television. The anxiety of wondering what is going to jump out at me and when wears me out. ...
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Abide in me (10/16/16)My parents told me when I grew up, I could do anything I wanted to do and be anything I wanted to be. I can only imagine they started to rethink that good-sounding advice when I told them I wanted to be Luke Skywalker. I was probably not going to be exactly who I wanted to be...
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The priority of creating margin (10/2/16)One of my favorite verses is Psalm 90:12. It reads, "Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts." The notion of counting our days not only reminds us of the brevity of life, but also compels us to make the days we have count...
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Savoring fall (9/18/16)Summer is unofficially over and fall is fast approaching. The mornings are already cooler than they have been, and those dreaded leaves are starting to fall off the tree in the front yard. Soon boots will replace flip-flops and sweaters for shorts. The curmudgeonly groans of one season closing soon are overshadowed by the cheerful possibilities of a new one beginning. ...
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What we choose to be named (9/4/16)Naming something is an extremely important process. In the past two decades, my wife and I have named five children, two dogs, three cats, several fish and a couple of cars. Some of those names were much easier to choose than others. What we are called, though, is not as important as what we choose to be called...
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Back to school (8/21/16)As the song goes, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." No, we have not skipped forward to December; it's time to go back to school. After a busy summer of camps, baseball, trips and a couple weeks of binge watching whatever they could find on TV, my kids are ready to go back to school. At least that is what I am telling them...
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Honoring the Lord with spiritual training (8/7/16)Recently I competed in my first triathlon. Ever since I was a kid watching the Ironman Triathlon from Kona, Hawaii, broadcast into the comfort of my living room, I wanted to compete in a triathlon. Swimming, biking, running and competing against yourself and with others who enjoy doing the same is a great way to spend a couple of early morning hours. ...
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'The secret is one thing' (7/24/16)"One thing. The secret of life is one thing." This is one of the greatest lines in movie dialogue delivered by the late Jack Palance to Billy Crystal's character in the 1991 film "City Slickers." Crystal is in the middle of a midlife crisis, so he and three of his closest friends leave the comfort of their homes to be part of a cattle drive in the southwestern United States. ...
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Love God, work hard, rest well (7/10/16)I am preparing to head out for a week's worth of vacation. This article -- which always is a joy to write -- is one of the last things that needs to be done before my phone is turned off, social media is ignored, and I start sleeping late and eating what I shouldn't...
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Striking constructive wounds (6/26/16)Criticism is not in short supply. Criticism flows freely, leaving a wake of destruction. However, a critique from a source who has invested himself or herself in you is worth listening to. Proverbs 27:6 reads, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."...
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Value enduring inner confidence over skin-deep notions of beauty (6/12/16)Summer unofficially has arrived. While you may be ready for summer, a quick peruse though the magazine rack at the grocery store will attempt to tell you your body is not. So much media bombard men and women with messages of what masculinity and femininity are supposed to be...
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Recognizing sacrifice on Memorial Day (5/29/16)This past week I found myself trying to explain Memorial Day to a friend to whom the United States is not their home country. They were trying to understand what Memorial Day was about, who was being honored and why. Looking back at this conversation, it was really helpful to think through what this holiday is about and articulate that to someone for whom it is foreign...
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Aspire to live, not just be successful (5/15/16)It is that time of year again. Young men and women -- and some not so young -- are donning caps and gowns to celebrate graduation. They have successfully met all of the requirements to complete their respective degree. Graduate or not, there are some matters from 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 that speak to everyone moving into the next stage of real life...
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Don't give up doing good (5/1/16)With all that goes wrong on any given day, we need an army of those in our lives who will do good for goodness' sake. The Bible in Galatians 6:9 encourages do-gooders by saying, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." We may not need reminders of the importance of doing good, but we certainly need encouragement to do good...
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'This isn't fair' (4/17/16)Frustration can be defined easily this way: What I expect to happen doesn't. What I do not expect to happen does. The book of Joshua records a conversation between the tribe of Joseph and Joshua, the leader, that is clouded in a feeling of frustration. A feeling driven by envy that blinds them to the blessings they have already been given...