Blog
Are You Listening?
On a recent early morning walk in the woods, I was captivated by the sounds around me. The frost-covered rye grass crunched beneath my feet. The wind swished through the loblolly pines. The crows “cawed” to each other in a language only they understand. We would...
Looking to the Amish for a Lesson in Humility
Last October Tina and I vacationed in Maine. For three days, we stayed on a working Amish farm. I learned that the Amish dress alike because it provides less opportunity for vanity. If everyone is wearing the same thing, no one worries about how much to spend for...
What Charlie Brown and Linus Teach Us About Christmas
As a boy, I looked forward to all the Charlie Brown specials the way an astronomer looks for the return of comets. Charles Schulz knew how to pull empathy from us as we rooted for Charlie Brown to win at least one baseball game. This natural born loser had children...
Making Room for the God’s Spirit
December 11 Most of us are busy, especially this time of the year. In addition to work, school, family, church, sports, the time we volunteer, and sleep, there’s parties, shopping, decorating, and lots more stress. But even then our days are not full. We might tell...
Coulrophobia Has Me in a Tizzy
I doubt I will ever play this fool again, Tizzy, my alter ego. Even before the recent insane outbreak of scary clowns that have terrorized children across the country, coulrophobia has been on the rise, mainly because of the use of clowns in a deranged way in movies,...
Life Lessons from Jose Fernandez’ Death
This week the Florida Marlins and major league baseball lost two-time All-Star and 2013 Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Jose Fernandez, who was killed along with two friends in a night-time boating accident in Miami. Sportswriter Tom Verducci said that Fernandez is the...
Tractor and Implements Donated to Ricks Institute
After a decade of faithful giving, enough money was saved to buy a Mahindra Max 24 4WD HST tractor and three implements for Ricks Institute, a 700-student Baptist school 16 miles outside Monrovia, Liberia. The purchase was made through The Bricks for Ricks...
Our Work is About the Stewardship of Our Gifts
According to one recent report, one in twenty Americans lost their job in the last five years. Imagine what the percentages are over a lifetime. Yet most think this will never happen to us. We don’t think our company will close, downsize, or move jobs overseas. We...
Boudia and Johnson Find an Identity Outside of Diving
During the Olympic opening ceremonies 205 countries and two independent teams participated in the parade of nations. Teams were identified by their national flags, colors, and distinctive uniforms. Rio is awash in jerseys, uniforms, flags, t-shirts, hats, and pins...
Pedaling Through Life Alone Leads to More Burnout
August 8, 2016 Here's a life lesson from the Cycling Road Race at the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro--"Trust Others, Work Together, Reap Results." Rafal Majka of Poland (men's event) and Mara Abbott of the United States (women's event) were both overtaken in the final...
Meet Dr. Dolittle’s Cousin – The Tomato Man
What if you could talk to the animals like Dr. Dolittle? Which language would you learn: elephant, eagle, buffalo, beagle? How about alligator, guinea pig, or flea? Recently, I spent some time with Dr. Dolittle’s cousin who knows how to speak to both the animals and...
Chandler Lanier Told His Story Forrest Gump Style
On the short list of many people's favorite movies is "Forrest Gump." Savannah, Georgia already had a storied history before the filming of this movie. The movie added to tourists’ favorite places for pictures, like Chippewa Square and the Independent Presbyterian...