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Aged to Perfection

“It takes a long time to grow old friends.” ~Unknown Life takes time. As I stepped through the low-hanging doorway, the smell of aged bourbon barrels combined with old wood wafted toward me, carrying a scent that is unique to the Kentucky hills. Knowing that I have a bit of a fascination both with…

The Gray Robe

There is only one window in my office. I find myself looking toward that window often from the padded chair that sits behind my corner desk, probably because it is nice to see the sunlight streak through the slits between the blinds from time-to-time. The sunlight has always reminded me of the ever-present warmth of…

Super Running Hugs

“Find what scares you the most and go live there.” ~Unknown Nothing compares to a dad hug. They were only toddlers when super running hugs became as common as anything else in our home. I would kneel at one end of whatever hallway might be situated within our current home, my daughters barely containing…

Plank-Eyed Saints

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite,…

Forged in the Fires of the Ordinary

“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” ~C.S. Lewis Shepherding was not a glamorous role in the ancient world, but it was a necessary one. Long hours spent alone in harsh conditions provided a tremendous amount of time…

Hating Religion and Loving Jesus

“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit,…

A Child’s Heart

A Child’s Heart “Old age is the most precious time of life, the one nearest eternity. There are two ways of growing old. There are old people who are anxious and bitter, living in the past and illusion, who criticize everything that goes on around them. Young people are repulsed by them; they are…

Everyday Deeds

“I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” ~The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey As I watched the scenario in front of me begin to unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not the fast-food restaurants of modern America…

The Life Lessons of Jesus

I have always had a fascination with history. Though there are many who would agree with me, we would perhaps be in the minority. Personally, I believe that we have achieved this minority status because history can so often be tragically reduced to nothing more than a list of dates, names, and events forever plaguing…

Thanks

I just want to offer a brief word of thanks to everyone that has read, liked, and shared my blog posts over the past few months. Because you have shared it with your friends, this one simple blog was read by people in Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, China, India, Ecuador, France, South Africa, The…

When Goodness Happened

“More important than our experience of Christ, is the Christ of our experience.” ~ James B. Torrance Recently, my youngest daughter was tasked with a project that spanned two of her middle-school classes. The project focused on creating a PowerPoint presentation (one class) that told the story of the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during…

Setting Boundaries

“Dad?” “Yes, Megan?” It was raining outside, and we were doing our best to hit as many puddles as possible on the way to school. “Pastors must not have taste buds.” “That was random. Any chance that you are going to fill me in as to why you’ve decided this?” “Because every time we have…