As part of our 45th anniversary last February, we chose to celebrate it at a time share resort in northern California’s Clear Lake, and took off from SoCal. Waze did a fine job, usually, and bypassed us off the crowded 101 in the Bay Area. We approached the appropriate exit, with a lot of backed up traffic: three lanes for normal traffic, one empty lane on the right for FasTrak. She told us to get in the FasTrak lane, but we had no transponder, and I had no desire to lose the $271 fine without one, so I slowed down in one of the three lanes. Then…I noticed a decent sized sign on the FasTrak lane…
Read MoreBorn in Mud and Blood
True confession time—I’m a bit of a Christmas junkie, and on this, the day after Christmas 2022, I’m not quite ready to give it up. Oh, I know the over-the-top displays like the pic are heading into hibernation, but maybe we can extend it, in the spirit of what the incarnation means. So, think with me on that first one, and how we can live it out…now. In a gritty manner.
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image by scroll.in
A Challenge
Graham Staines left his Australian homeland in 1965 to minister to the least in India—the lepers and tribal poor. His goal: to demonstrate God’s love. The Least of These, a film based on his life, premiered this week: showing him tending the wounds of lepers, traveling to jungle camps. Even more, he contributed to translating the New Testament into the Ho language of India, and proofread the entire text. He met Jesus often along the way, since …
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The Key to Intimacy Is...
How do we enhance intimacy in human relationships? An important question, since as humans we’re so enmeshed with others. But I suspect what builds intimacy between humans often works between humans and God. Makes sense, since he created us in his image. That key is…
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Lay It Down
Most of us struggle with self-will, and that problem most emerges in marriage. No other relationship so blends the amount of time spent together and the intricate meshing of lives with its closeness and importance. Understandably, that connection gets the most threatened by our selfishness. Ironic, the surprise that hit me on our 39th anniversary celebration...
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image from NBC News
I Am The Greatest!
When we hear the line, “I am the greatest,” many think of Muhammad Ali. Even before some current politicians. He crashed into our awareness when he took the Olympic gold medal in 1960 and smashed the invincible Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship in 1964 (above pic). This remarkable athlete and poet described himself as “pretty,” loved the limelight and adulation, and even took on the US government and won. Quite a man, who later fought Parkinson’s until his death in 2016. But before we mourn his and other’s lack of humility, maybe we need to look inward a bit. Don’t we all face the same issue? What caused Adam and Eve to change the outcome of the world? They wanted importance and power. What caused Cain to kill Abel? He wanted to do things as he desired. And as I studied “Just Jesus” this week, another example crushed me.
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image from mariposaresearch.net
Mount Hermon
As I put together this post on Wednesday, I'm getting ready. The Mustang is gassed, soon to be cleaned. A case of clothes soon to be filled, then all packed in securely so cruising the coast with the convertible top down won't blow anything out--except worries and cares and stress. As you read this, starting Monday, the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference will come close to its conclusion. Set in the redwoods just above Santa Cruz
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How Far Will You Follow His Will?
Since moving back to our hometown of Temecula three weeks ago, we’ve enjoyed savoring the flavors of local churches. Some pretty large, some pretty small, some in the middle, but the message today at Oakstone Community Church caused me to think. Quite a bit. The text began with 2 Timothy 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…” but then the pastor pointed out the difference from Paul’s first letter to Timothy, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the command of God…"
A change of just one word, but with...
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