This weekend my friend Wayne and I backpacked the Fiery Gizzard Trail on the Cumberland Plateau near Monteagle, Tennessee. It is both breathtakingly beautiful and gut-wrenching brutal. We hiked 17.5 miles over the 2 days, 13.5 the first day and 4 the second. We slept (and I use that word generously) in the middle of… Continue Reading
Usually at the beginning of the year I make plans and set goals for the coming months. I don’t do resolutions but I lay out the agenda for the coming year, write down the objectives and map out the necessary steps to get there. I don’t always accomplish all of my goals but one thing… Continue Reading
I love my daughter-in-law but she cries a lot. Especially when it comes to watching her boys grow up. That’s okay. I usually cry with her. Last week we had a tearful moment. Jon-Mical who is 7 was having his first official sleep over at a friend’s house. He was excited all day. Packed his… Continue Reading
REAL REPENTANCE I was saddened to read the internet headlines yesterday that Billy Graham’s grandson Tullian Tchividjian has resigned from his pulpit at Coral Ridge Presbyterian, a high-profile church in South Florida, after admitting he had an affair. I heard Tullian speak a couple of years ago and he is a gifted communicator. I have followed… Continue Reading
However you feel about the outcome of the Super Bowl last night you probably agree with most of sports minded humanity that the hopes of the Seattle Seahawks ended on a pretty bizarre play. For the 7 of you who were not watching (which included me until the last 3 minutes by the way), Seattle… Continue Reading
Here’s last word in three days to keep Christmas Holy and Healthy. SACERDOTAL. Understand the ministry of Mary. Luke 2:14-19 Sacerdotal means priestly, representing God. It’s the same root word from which we get Sacrament. When we take the sacraments, the bread and wine of communion that represent God to us. So the… Continue Reading
SACRIFICIAL Learn the lesson of the wise men. Matthew 2:1-12 Okay, I want you to imagine for a minute that it is your birthday. You send out invitations and invite all of your friends over. You make a big sheet cake for everyone to eat and a beautiful, decorated three… Continue Reading
THREE DAYS OF MAKING THE HOLIDAY HOLY! For the next three days look at three words to make your holiday as stress free and as sacred as it can be, Todays word… SIMPLE Remember the story of the Shepherds. Luke 2:8-12 A few weeks ago we took Jakson, our 3 year old grandson to the… Continue Reading
Our youngest grandson, Jakson, is three. He also is a hitter. Now, in his defense, he’s small for his age. Lots of people, including his PoppyC, play rough and tumble with him, tickling, tackling, teasing. Sometimes the only way for him to get our attention or save himself from too much “picking” is a good… Continue Reading
Quenched by jacobcourtney1 “The first time I tried beer, I hated the taste. The last time I tried beer, I hated the taste too—but for a different reason. This is a story about a man who loves God—always has from the time he was seven. But at 45 he said hello to a substance that… Continue Reading