“Chapter Books”

January 24, 2020

I could hear it from the back of my 2002 Chrysler van, grandkids seizing a moment, celebrating a right of passage. The discussion centered around the ability not only to read, but most importantly, to read “chapter books.” Stories within stories. Passages that are a part of an overarching story line. A chapter, distinct in […]

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They laughed…

January 10, 2020

“…they laughed at him” (Mark 5:40) Humor was not the inspiration for this laughter. There was nothing funny or entertaining that ignited this reaction. This was pure skepticism. Arrogance, perhaps. And probably not entirely unwarranted. A twelve-year-old girl. Dead. Death picked the daughter of a prominent leader. Indiscriminately. The mourners were out. The tears flowed. Wailing filled the […]

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20/20 into 2020

January 3, 2020

Ophthalmologists and Optometrists have been the most frequently visited physicians in my lifetime. The typical vision correction has been one factor, but added to that, I have ocular hypertension, and an occurrence of a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in 2008. This has amplified the value I place on visual acuity. The visual quality that expert […]

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The On Ramp to Christmas… a concluding thought

December 20, 2019

Hanging on a wall in our hallway, under glass, are memorable invitations/announcements that have happened in our family over the years. A wedding in Michigan in 1978. The birth of a son in 1981, another in 1983, and a daughter in 1986. Then weddings in 2003, 2006, and 2008. Invitations to hope. Announcements of joy. […]

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The best supporting actor.

December 16, 2019

On a cosmic stage, with the spotlight shining most brightly in a different direction. Joseph. But it’s Joseph who endures the crushing realization that the love of his life, his fiancé, his hometown girl is pregnant. The Gospel of Matthew records it this way… Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. […]

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The On Ramp to Christmas… continued

December 6, 2019

In 1968, after a vivid and moving dream about his deceased mother, Paul McCartney put pen to paper for his last song as a member of the Beatles. The song became the title track of the final Beatles album in 1970. Let it be… Even as I type these words, the melody and lyrics drift […]

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The On-Ramp to Christmas – Part 2 Between Gabriel and Elizabeth

November 22, 2019

Interruptions are often unwelcome, and at times frightening. But just imagine. A young teenaged girl… possibly lost in the anticipation, or fear, or delight of an upcoming marriage. Then, a voice, an exchange, an encounter. With an angel. With Gabriel. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Mary was reeling. Not just on […]

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The On-Ramp to Christmas…

November 15, 2019

Her resume was short and unimpressive. Her passion and hope were personal and reputational. But she was clearly on the radar of God. In His plan. Indeed, God has a knack for finding obscure people and elevating them to places of cosmic significance, of eternal impact. Elizabeth. Wife to Zechariah. Righteous and good. Childless. And […]

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Incarcerated – Still Sitting on my Soul

November 8, 2019

From time to time over the last six months, a stagnant memory or reflection stirs in my soul as I think about 26 hours in lock up. Most urgently I’m drawn back to the simple and straightforward process of “intake”. It’s the activity of separating the resident from the last remnant of personal belongings. Individual […]

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I’m Busy…

November 1, 2019

“How are you?” The question crosses our lips or pushes into our ears over and over again. And most often the reply swirls around some variation of… “I’m busy…” Busy. Rushed. Maybe even squashed and breathless and frantic… Have you been there? Are you there? Are the people around you there? As always, the life […]

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