Why Won’t They Listen?

We all want to be heard. Sometimes we speak with a ballot, other times by standing up in front of a group of people. Even giving someone the silent treatment is a way to say something. But why won’t some people listen? It could be that our reputation does not match...

Fighting Like Cats and Dogs

People fight, sometimes like cats and dogs. If that were not so, there would be no countries, politics, or generational gaps. It seems that people are drawn to conflict like mosquitos to a bug zapper. It doesn’t have to be that way. In Acts 13:1, there were five...

Stoplights Are Not Suggestions

They have a purpose. Stoplights exist so that there will be fewer accidents. They tell us when we can safely go through an intersection and when we can’t. Imagine a world where people regularly ignored stoplights. Stoplights have a purpose. In John 15:17, Jesus gives...

Cruel Indifference

It’s Christmas Day! What are you thinking about today? Hopefully, you spend time with family. Maybe you will have a good meal (or 5 or 6 with leftovers to spare…). Perhaps presents will be opened. Don’t forget to call your mom! Maybe cheer on your favorite team in...

That Sure Is a Lot of Work

There is a scene in McFarland, USA when Kevin Costner had worked in the fields until all he could do was lay on the ground, moaning in misery. Some people see Christianity like that and ask, “Is it worth it?” In John 15:1-17, Jesus talks to His disciples...

What Was I Thinking?

If I don’t finish a project before the end of the day, then there is a good chance that when I come back to it the next day, I will ask myself, “What was I thinking?” Until I remember what I was thinking, “I lose the bubble,” and just stare at it. Sometimes I think I...

You Can’t Get There From Here

There was a story about a tourist in London trying to get to Big Ben, or maybe it was about trying to get to Great Bend, or perhaps I don’t really remember it at all. The point was that the tourist kept hearing, “You can’t get there from here.” The Bible doesn’t leave...

Ozymandias

“Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” That’s the only phrase I remember from that poem. We read it in high school and were taught that it had a double meaning. On the one hand, Ozymandias wrote it to terrify other kings into submission. On the other hand, it...

Parsimony is a Virtue

The colonel told me to keep it short. His exact words were, “Parsimony of word is a virtue.” I don’t know if he quoted someone famous, but it did reflect an ancient American proverb, “Waste not, want not.” In John 12:3-5, Mary opened very costly perfume, poured it on...

How Much Evidence Do You Need?

There are some things people just won’t believe, despite the evidence. Perhaps they reject the evidence. Maybe they don’t like the conclusion drawn from the evidence. It might even be that they fabricate evidence contrary to the truth. Reasonable people, however, draw...

New Testament

God Has a Better Plan

God Has a Better Plan

Two thousand years ago, Elizabeth wanted children. In her culture, children were her priority. She didn’t have any, therefore others looked down on her. Her society wrote her off as too old to be a successful Jewish woman. She was too old to have children. She was...

read more
Greek Yogurt Is Terrible

Greek Yogurt Is Terrible

Johnny stood, mouth open in disgust. “It gets stuck between your teeth, is too tough to chew, and tastes like day-old Dr. Pepper. Greek yogurt is yucky!” He wrinkled his nose even thinking about it. Jen paused her spoon an inch from her open mouth. “Have you ever...

read more
Come and See!

Come and See!

Nurses just know. They’ve been there, done that. They say, “Just slap a bandaid on it and stop complainin’!” But that same gruff nurse who blows off our ouches and owies as an annoyance will soften like butter in the warm, Texas sun when confronted with a patient who...

read more

Old Testament

Change Is Tough

Change Is Tough

The Air Force provides a lot of training, very little of it on a volunteer basis. One of the trainings I took was in “Change Management.” It may have had a different, more military sounding name, something like “Non-linear Progression of Leadership Requirements” but I...

read more
The A-Team

The A-Team

When the Air Force stationed my dad overseas, the only real disadvantage of living “on the economy” was a lack of US TV programs. If you lived close enough to base, you could watch the Armed Forces Network, but we lived too far away. Somehow, one of the American...

read more