The Father Wound (outline from Simply Free)

The Father Wound Dr. Mike Courtney Simply Free 2014   “While the term “father wound” is not an officially recognized clinical term, it is used by many mental health professionals in identifying the origin of numerous emotional and behavioral conflicts in spouses, singles and children. These difficulties can be the result of failing to have… Continue Reading

David’s Funeral Message

I have been thinking a lot over these last few days about David. Not our David but King David, that mighty man of valor, 2nd king of Israel, that David. Well really about how much that David and our David had in common. They were both writers. King David wrote most of the Psalms, probably… Continue Reading

David’s Legacy

David’s Legacy

This is a revised and abbreviated version of the funeral message for David Pierce. If you’d like to read the entire message the link is posted at the end of this blog. I have been thinking a lot over these last few days about David, King David, that mighty man of valor, 2nd king of… Continue Reading

Living Out Pentecost

Living Out Pentecost

On July 8th, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut, almost 35 years before the Declaration of Independence, an early American preacher by the name of Jonathan Edwards stepped into the pulpit. He took his text from Deuteronomy and began to preach. The title of his message was Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. It was… Continue Reading

Everyday Easter

Everyday Easter

Yesterday was mowing day on the Courtney estate. Started my little push mower and set out on the familiar loop around the back yard to whack dandelions and daffodils alike. It didn’t matter to me. Whatever is in my path was going down. Mowing is my therapy on bad days and it had been kind… Continue Reading

The Paper

The Paper

I loved breakfast at church camp in Batesburg, SC. We would stand in line outside the canteen, waiting for them to unhook the screen door and let 60 sleepy-eyed, bed-headed, teenagers stumble in to heaps of sausage links, scrambled eggs, and a huge pot of grits slathered with butter. We couldn’t even spell cholesterol in… Continue Reading

Easter Is Everything

Easter Is Everything

“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”  I Corinthian 15:17 Rick Warren posted a video tease this week with the title “Easter is Everything.” That’s what Easter means to me. It means everything. As Christ followers, all that we believe, all that we hope for,… Continue Reading

Making the Most of Movie Momentum

Making the Most of Movie Momentum

Making the Movie Momentum Matter One sportswriter said, “Momentum is a fickle dance partner.” Whether in business, baseball, or building a relationship, when things are going bad it’s hard to change. When momentum is moving in our favor, however, it makes sense to grab hold and dance until the music stops. For decades we in… Continue Reading

To School Counselors

To School Counselors

This article was published today in the Daily News & Journal. It is an open letter to my daughter-in-law and all school counselors on the last day of National School Counseling Week.   February 3-7, 2014 is National School Counseling Week. More than 32,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week’s festivities. Many… Continue Reading

Your Walk Talks Louder Than Your Talk Talks

I did not watch the Grammys. I have read with interest the uproar on Facebook and other places by Christians over much of the content of that the awards show aired on CBS. It sounds like much of what we stand for as Christians was ridiculed and slapped in the face. And we, as we… Continue Reading