The Shout of Joy

October 27, 2023

It had been over two years since I had seen my brother, Sam, and his wife Mary Gayle face to face. We had stopped by their lovely home in Laurel, Maryland in September of 2021 and spent an overnight with them. During that time together, while enjoying long and lingering conversations, Sam let us know […]

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Into the Deep

October 13, 2023

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) A night of frustration, followed by advice from an outsider. Simon. A professional fisherman. A tradesman who knew his trade. A provider who knew what was at stake. Simon’s response […]

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Fill in the Blank

October 6, 2023

Yesterday I was playing a little basketball with a couple of my grandkids. Yes, a favorite for me! Because the game occurred spontaneously, I was not wearing the appropriate footwear. My sandals provided little protection when a renegade foot slammed on top of it. I winced. Danced, and limped away. Today, I got my toes […]

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An Edit for the Ages

September 29, 2023

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence. Words that have reverberated through history. Words that informed and guided. Yet, the opening words of […]

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How dark is dark?

September 22, 2023

Perhaps, like me, you’ve noticed how much “space” is being given in Christian dialogue around the darkness of our culture. In print. In social media. On podcasts. Many of us have become experts in describing just how dark the darkness is. It was two years ago that Mary and I toured the Quincy Mine in […]

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Confessions of a Non-Camper

September 8, 2023

It was two years ago that our family gathered outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado for a camping weekend. Yes, that means all 19 of us… with one notable adjustment. In this case Mary and I opted to “camp” at a nice hotel in Steamboat Springs. Certainly we joined the other 17 family members for a […]

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Hey, Jesus…

September 1, 2023

Good morning, Lord. I’m starting my day with a deep sense of gratitude for your love, mercy, grace, and sacrifice. You are too wonderful for words. So… I’ve got a few things I’m sorting through that I need some clarity on. Consider this a process check. The Sermon on the Mount, which, by the way, […]

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The Groans of Lahaina

August 18, 2023

“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all […]

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Nevin…

August 11, 2023

While most parents in Suburban Chicago were sending their kids to summer camp, or enrolling them in Little League, my parents had a different plan. The farm. Specifically, the homestead of Jesse and Wilma Dourte, my mother’s younger brother and his wife. Picture it. Beautiful rural Pennsylvania. Lancaster County. Rolling hills. Full and lush vegetation, […]

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Day Six… Lingering in the memories

August 4, 2023

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of […]

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