All Blog Posts (106)

My long time friend and sister in the Lord, Diane Hanson sent this to me earlier today and I thought it might be more than beneficial to share it with others.  As you think about Christmas and navigating it if you're divorced - or if you know a family who is - this idea may be very helpful.  Christ has forgiven you and I for so very much.  The wisdom in her words as she approaches a very practical but challenging problem is evident.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I…

Friends,

I'm reflecting on ...

Fear is perhaps caused through a real feeling of what is out of our control.

I'm head on with the struggle of fear and find it to be confusing, tiring and a great distraction from all that really matters.  My boss is entangled in fear and brings it head on in displaced anger, with a self agenda aimed at my expense to take control and secure her future in the work place.  

Two fears out of control have collided!!

I find my fear…

We've all picked up a novel, flipped through a magazine, watched a video, or seen a picture that has spoken to us in mighty ways. It happened to me just a few weeks ago, delivered in a short book from someone I don't even know. Her gift spoke volumes within the first nine or so pages. No. Make that nine seconds.

The book is entitled "ten poems to change your life" by Roger Housden. Housden examines each poem and offers reflections with strong insight. It's a lovely read, though filled…

Hope is something that I, for sure, could NOT live without.

Not to be incredibly depressing for the sake of being depressing, but imagine being in a place of completely and utter hopelessness.  The most hopeless situation I could imagine would be to find yourself in a small cell of unbreakable stone, with all walls sealed shut.  No doors, no windows, no skylight--no openings at all.  You know for a sure fact that there is no drill, no blunt object, no chisel that could possibly break…

Yep, I have them… and one of them has to do with being in prison.  Whenever I have a dream about this particular subject, I can always remember it vividly the morning after, and can usually derive some sort of meaning from it.

If you know me at all, you know my biggest fear is being locked up and confined in a small, dark room alone and with no way out.  In last night’s dream, I was being thrown into a prison for some reason.  Perhaps no reason at all… actually, I think there was a…

Friends,

Have you ever hidden behind success? 

Success can be rewarding, an image building opportunity, more wealth, status and a way to keep climbing to the top.  Yes, the world will tell you this about success and from time to time we might get pulled in.  Sometimes we try so hard to succeed and the challenge becomes daunting, frustrating, fearful, empty, exhausting and precarious at best.  Yes, there we are alone; hiding our heads behind the dark shadow of what we thought…

I was just skimming through an article written by Tim Ferris called “8 Steps to Getting What You Want… Without Formal Credentials”. It’s definitely interesting to read as a recent college graduate who thought having a Bachelor’s degree would make it easier to land a job.

As I think I mentioned before, I moved to Madison back in June and hoped to be able to find some kind of job soon. I’m employed now, but it took until just this past Friday (October 7th) for it to happen. Long story…

I was just skimming through an article written by Tim Ferris called “8 Steps to Getting What You Want… Without Formal Credentials”. It’s definitely interesting to read as a recent college graduate who thought having a Bachelor’s degree would make it easier to land a job.

As I think I mentioned before, I moved to Madison back in June and hoped to be able to find some kind of job soon. I’m employed now, but it took until just this past Friday (October 7th) for it to happen. Long story…

(This is a sort of rough draft, I apologize if there are any typos, please let me know, and please let me know if this makes any sense. Otherwise, enjoy)

There is an interesting story in Luke 5 (take the time to read it, I’ll be here when you are done). It begins with Jesus teaching in someone’s home. And…

            We tend to dig ourselves into very deep and dark holes—whether intentionally or not.  I recently read a book that my mom sent me in the mail—Get out of That Pit by Beth Moore, and found it particularly enlightening.  It was about how we can either be pushed into, slip into, or jump into pits—dark places where we can’t stand up or defend ourselves from the enemy (Satan), and can’t see past our own fingertips.  A pit is a place of hopelessness and despair—think of the story…

Just so you know, this is a continuation of the last one (about Italy).

            After this whole experience, I was basically left with three empty months of empty twenty-four hour days.  My spirit was empty but my brain was not.  I started writing, reading, thinking about God and learning about all the things I didn’t learn about when I had items on my schedule.  I recall becoming “addicted” to the book of Ecclesiastes, which is where you naturally turn when you’re feeling empty…

Just as a note, I wove together different things that I have read as well as my own words as a prayer to begin my day with a prayerful heart and a way to start my day with God and essentially start the day off right. Just thought that I would share it with. Hope it encourages you to write your own. 

God,

Thank you for this new day. Help me to begin it by first putting on the armor that you have provided for me. I buckle into place the belt of your truth. May I share…

Italy

“It was the day the world went wrong

I screamed till my voice was gone

And watched through the tears as everything

Came crashing down

Slowly panic turns to pain

As we awake to what remains

And sift through the ashes that are left

Behind”

            Above are the opening lyrics to Stephen Curtis Chapman’s “Beauty Will Rise”.  The song talks about how devastating circumstances can sometimes…

So, one of my friends on Facebook recently posted a music video by this band called "The Shaggs"... here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN9UT2zF8c8

Notice there's something off, almost creepy and unsettling about the video?  It may just be "foot foot" himself, but the music is also off-beat, and you can hear a kind of deadness and lack of enthusiasm in the singer's voice that causes you to wonder…

Friends,

It is a rainy Sunday, September 25th and I'm siting in a comfortable chair, reflecting on days gone by.  I'm looking at my hands and see two hands that have done much over my life.  Two hands, that have played, created art work, worked with nature, teamed with colleagues, helped others, drove, held my wife's hands, held my two children, held my head in times of sadness and held them high in times of joy.  

Yes, two hands with five fingers on each; pause to…

I drink two cups of coffee every single morning (unless I'm only provided with one).  I have an extremely difficult time beginning my day without it.  In fact, right now as I'm writing this, I'm wishing I had a cup in hand *gets up, moves to kitchen, and makes a cup*

It's in the process of brewing now.  Anyway-- when I was in college I would get coffee from random coffee shops almost every day to help me do…

What is more important to most people: perfection, or relatability?  By relatability, I mean the ability you have to have a relationship with a certain person—as in how comfortable you are when you speak to him or her, how well you understand each other, how deep your conversation topics delve, etc.

Who would you pick to work for you?  To be on your team or in a group with you?  To help you get something done?  Would it be the person who doesn’t seem to have any flaws, or the one who…

Each year, we remember September 11. We remember where we were when we heard the news. We remember how we felt. At least, most of us do.  

This year, as we remembered the 10th anniversary, I stood across the street from Middleton Fire Station #1 on University Avenue in Middleton, WI. With about a dozen strangers, I stood beside my son, age 11. 

We watched the firefighters in their dress uniforms,…

Why can parents say "Jesus Christ" in frustration, but kids can't?  Why can your school guidance counselor smoke cigarettes while you're taught day after day that it causes cancer and is bad?  Why can priests preach the message of Christ, but then go and engage in sinful behaviors with children?  What ever happened to role models?

            Last week began a new school year at the school where I substitute teach, speak at Chapel and considered a role model.  As part of…