“Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console” Of all the requests in our St. Francis Prayer, this can be the trickiest. Needing consolation can get some of us really wrapped up in ourselves.…

Another foggy morning. Driving to a Conference clergy event in Springfield, which from here means two lane highways and lots of hills. Go a little slower. Headlights on. Sounds like times in my life that have had nothing to do with the…

From ages ago:   “O Divine Master” From a couple of days ago:  She was helping us with Martin. Martin is our dog.  Sunday, February 5 will be his eighth birthday.  He’ll be eight months old. We are all three in Obedience Training. Martin…

Let’s call her Laura, which is not her real name but it sure is close.  She’s a family member in her early-mid-20’s. Laura took some clothes to Plato’s Closet.  Laura was anticipating a cash infusion, as had been her experience…

“Where there is sadness, let me sow joy” Among my favorite things people say to me are these two: “You don’t look like a pastor” and “You don’t act like a pastor.” Part of me wants to reply with a…

So Patty and I were watching a snowboard competition and loving it when we noticed one of the sponsors was called America’s Navy. Quick visit to that site revealed that it was indeed the U.S. Navy. Also known now as…

From long ago —  Where there is darkness, let me sow light. I’m part of a project that involves painting the first part of Genesis like an abstract expressionist. The opening formless void of chaos was immediately into the sketchbook.…

Coach Joe Paterno apparently didn’t like players having their names on the back of their jerseys. “It’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back.” That.  Speaks. Volumes.

Previously, in Perfect Failures, Part One — More about this later…because, we’re also told in Matthew 5:48 to “Be perfect, like God in heaven is perfect”  Let’s think together about this.— John Maxwell recently advised this: “Stop working on your weakness.”…

From long ago — Where there is despair,  let me sow hope. “You know who needs encouragement?”  was the question.  “Everybody you meet.” We need to remember an old song, “But I would not give you false hope, on this…