Good Better Best are three categories under which our daily activities might fall. It’s called the Good Better Best philosophy. Many years ago, I sat in a large congregation where the speaker posed the question, “What comes to mind when you think of false traditions?” Immediately, my mind went to the people of another country,…
An experience with hospitality and entertaining angels happened in my youth, and the lessons learned have never left me. Entertaining Angels He was from Germany. His English was limited; however, he needed immediate assistance so he made his way to the church building where my father led a congregation. After a short visit with the…
Have you ever considered creating new Halloween traditions? Growing up in a small town in the 1980s, October 31st felt like nothing but innocent fun. Dressed in homemade clown costumes, my siblings and I walked through the neighborhood collecting candy from our friends and neighbors. Fast forward thirty years and I was eager to celebrate…
“This morning as I lay in bed, I got to thinking, Mom,” my seventeen-year-old daughter said excitedly, “that there were three important periods in history that completely revolutionized the way we live. And all three begin with the letter ‘R’: Reformation, Revolution, and Restoration.” Below are valuable resources to assist with learning more about these…
Looking for Christ-centered Easter ideas? Check out this list of 400+ ways to celebrate Jesus Christ this Easter season. N.T. Wright taught that we “should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away,…
America is “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. It has a rich heritage and, despite what critics may think, a promising future. Some time ago, I stood with a congregation at church to sing our American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Tears came to my eyes as we sang the…
My favorite posts from 2024 are designed to uplift, encourage, and inspire change in one’s personal life, home, and family. Favorite Posts Following are twelve favorite posts from 2024: How to Be Ordinary and Happy: 7 Inspiring Ideas I long to be ordinary. That’s right. Ordinary like my mother and grandmothers. Learning how to be…
Selecting the most controversial posts from 2024 was simple, as many posts on this blog can make one feel uncomfortable. Feeling a bit uncomfortable is, ultimately, what this blog is all about⎯sensing personal inadequacy, having a desire to do better, and taking daily actions to improve one’s life and draw closer to God. Controversial Posts…
The Rich Young Ruler is a parable taught by Jesus Christ in the Bible. In it, we are reminded of the call to put first the kingdom of God. This letter is a personal response to Christ’s parable. It is filled with empathy, and is written directly to the rich young ruler. Can you related…