We all know that we are not going to live forever. Still, we don’t usually like to think about death and dying. It troubles us. There is a word in the New Testament usually translated as “troubled;” it describes the inner turmoil and anxiety familiar to each of us – that gut-wrenching anxiety and agonyRead more
We live in challenging times. Changes in government and blatant depravity foster great concern. Uncertainty about the economy, loss of respect for authority and other people is troublesome. Many of us face family concerns that threaten to crush us. Personal health issues of friends, family, and ourselves conspire to overwhelm us. Each of us facesRead more
A tribute to my wife of 50 years. It has been 50 years since Judy and I pledged our love and faithfulness and to one another before God. When a couple promises this “for better or for worse” they have no idea of what they are committing to. What we did commit to was toRead more
I grew up learning that hard work was the solution for just about everything. So, I intentionally developed good work habits and prided myself on being a hard worker. One summer while I was in college, I worked in a “labor gang.” The foreman told me that if he had 2 more guys like me,Read more
Like a dream come true… Do you remember the last time you were happy? I mean deliriously happy. So happy that it seemed like a dream – almost too good to be true. I can recall being that happy when I returned home from the hospital in 2011. I had left my house for aRead more
Where do you run to find safety or security when you need it? I recently watched a TV program titled “Mr. Monk and the Panic Room” during which the celebrated detective is called on to investigate a murder that occurred in a panic room. This room was in the home of a wealthy record producerRead more
When you feel like everything is against you, that is because it is or it might be. It does not take a lot of imagination to think of circumstances that threaten to harm and overwhelm us. Social turmoil, political chaos, and financial uncertainty are compounded by our problems and issues. Bad news has taken onRead more
Big Henry dominated the chopping room at Hatfield Packing Company. The chopping room produced sausages, hot dogs, luncheon meats and was Big Henry’s domain. I first heard of him during my interview with Phil, the personnel director when he informed me that I would be “working with Big Henry and his crew.” This was greatRead more
Glad – when was the last time you were glad – really glad? When I was a boy and upset about something trivial, my father would say to me, “Don’t get mad; you’ll only have to get glad again.” What is glad? What does glad mean? Here are some suggestions from the thesaurus of myRead more
Discouraged, Overwhelmed, and confused… The news reports, particularly over the last month, have been discouraging. Who would believe that angry mobs would unabashedly threaten our governmental structure? Who would believe that our Supreme Court would actually yield to public pressure rather than uphold our Constitution? This social confusion and unrest are exacerbated by personal problems.Read more