The Sons of Issachar. Are You One?
David, the son of Jesse, who became the greatest ancient king of Israel, is someone I’ve always admired. While the Bible says, he was "a man after God’s own heart,” in a sense, David reflects the hearts of many of us. He was a man of great highs, but also deep...
Turning the Page: Liberty Ridge Ranch
In January, we marked the end of a chapter in our lives with the sale of Liberty Ridge Ranch. Eight years ago Lori and I stumbled across a farm property that would become much more than just that, in the years to come. It’s funny how oftentimes we push on a door...
The Fallacy of Uttering: “We know how it ends!”
Wars. They’re ugly. People die. Many more are wounded. Destruction abounds. And there are often many battles before the war is won. Some wars can last years. In fact, America is still engaged in our longest war. We’ve been fighting in Afghanistan for nearly 20...
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil…?
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing!” True or False? I’ve referenced this quote hundreds of times. And a poll concluded that the quote is the most popular one of modern times. Americans wholeheartedly embrace it. ...
America: A Grumbling Nation
Complaining, griping and fretting. This has become the overarching theme of a nation which has been blessed in such extraordinary ways. Yet, Americans live to grumble. We breathe in fresh air. And exhale polluted expletives. We inhale God’s gift of...
Privilege: A Christian Response
Privilege. It’s a word that has become mainstream today. But before we examine how this word is used today, let’s visit the definition, from the Webster’s Dictionary in 1828: In its simplest definition, privilege is an “advantage, favor or benefit.” But, in a more...
The Call (a poem of focus…)
The Call of a follower of Jesus does NOT include obsessing with everything around us that seems to counter the way we would like the world to go. If you are there, you've lost the joy and peace of your call from the God of the universe, as my poem below attempts...
The Impeachment Trial & US
As I watched some excerpts from Trump’s second Impeachment Trial, it seemed to me that the voices expressed in the Senate Chamber merely echo the millions of voices outside that chamber. One side is convinced they are righteous and the other side is evil. While the...
The Disciples’ Dilemma is Ours Too
Matthew sat down behind his tax collector’s booth. It was just another day for him. He’d been doing this for enough years now that everyone knew he was a wealthy man. He had no external needs, or even wants. Yet he was empty inside. This emptiness had most recently...
Mechanics, Brain Surgery & Politicians
If you use a mechanic for brain surgery, the mechanic will fail, and you may die. If you use a hammer to repair a windshield, the hammer will fail and the windshield will shatter. Likewise, as long as we continue to consult politicians for their answers to problems...