Distractions
I have a confession to make. Recently my morning “computer routine” has been cutting into my daily time with God. A few minutes to check email and Facebook before sitting down with my Bible and prayer journal turned into more than a few minutes.
Checking email led to responding to email. Checking Facebook messages led to [...]
Spiritually Hyperactive
Here’s my most recent Google search: “Can a dog be hyperactive?” (In case you’re interested, the answer is “yes.”) Well, I’m convinced the puppy my son Mark adopted from a local shelter has a serious case.
Remi is an eleven pound, mixed breed blend of constant motion. He never walks anywhere. He reminds me of the [...]
Peace on earth
Peace. We throw that word around a lot this time of year. But how much peace do we truly experience in the midst of cooking, shopping, traveling, and entertaining?
I admit I haven’t felt at peace. In fact, it seems my life has been overly chaotic and busy recently. The last three weeks have been filled [...]
The Importance of Lattes and other Inconsequential Stuff
The handmade sign read: “Expect considerable delays. Due to equipment failure we are down to one machine. Wait time will be affected. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
Hmm. After a brief pause to consider how I should respond, I pulled my car into the line behind at least six others. Two more pulled in behind me. I [...]
WEDDING SHOWERS AND AX HEADS OR “DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE?”
In my younger days, I never had to write things down on a calendar. My mind was like a steel trap; I remembered everything. But now that I’m older – relatively speaking, of course – I really have to keep a close eye on my calendar. But sometimes I forget to check it.
Take this June [...]
Serious as a Heart Attack
Small difficulties and last-minute changes always pop-up during a short-term mission trip. For instance, two years ago the car rental agency gave our “reserved” mini-vans to someone else. And last year, the Vacation Bible School in the city suburbs became a kids’ club on a First Nations (native North Americans) Reservation. I always encourage mission [...]
Surprised by Teenagers
I’m in Canada right now with a bunch of teenagers. I’m leading a small, short-term mission team from our Texas church to help two churches in Alberta. The team includes four relatively sane adults and eight high school students. These four young men and four young women are loud, hyper, and always-hungry. And they aren’t [...]
What Legacy will you Leave?
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is dead at fifty years old. I really can’t remember a time in my life that I don’t remember Michael Jackson. In my early years of grade school, he was already singing with the Jackson Five. “ABC, easy as 123. As simple as do ray me. ABC, 123, baby [...]
Puffer Fish, Teenagers, and Dictators
Do you ever look around at injustice in the world and wonder why God doesn’t step in and do something? Some days it seems like evil has free reign in our world. In fact, it often feels like evil is beating the snot out of all things good.
Here’s just a small sampling of the things [...]
The Last and Greatest Reunion
Last weekend I attended my 30th high school reunion. I know what some of you are thinking. That’s what my husband thought and refused to go with me. But I had a blast. In fact, everyone that came had a great time.
The weekend began last Thursday with an eight-hour drive back to my home town. [...]


