I was in the 4th grade and we had moved again to a new school in Indiana. It was a rainy, winter day and we did PE indoors. The gym teacher said we were to pick teams and play kickball. Now. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in the “pick teams” scenario, but it… Continue Reading
I spoke last week for the graduation ceremony of the Williamson County Drug Court. This is an innovative program, 15 years old now, that is spreading across the country. Repeat drug offenders are given a chance to attend a 2 year, rigorous rehabilitation and recovery training in lieu of a return to prison. The 2… Continue Reading
My cousin, Thad, was born with Down’s Syndrome. He was 6 months younger than me, so we grew up together. Those who knew Thad knew that what he lacked in cognitive abilities, he more than made up for with a heart as big as the sky. From my very first memories of Thad, he would… Continue Reading
I have a friend who is a funny writer, a good writer but a funny one. He does a periodic “blog” of sorts that is always down-homey (is that a thing?), honest, and wise about recovery and sobriety. He wrote me this email yesterday in response to the devotion on Deuteronomy 10; (I edited it… Continue Reading
I love my wife. I want to please her and make her happy. I want to provide for her and give her what her heart desires. Sometimes I just don’t know what that is. Several years ago, Doris had emergency surgery. She went in through the ER and our wonderful friend, Dr. David McKnight, met… Continue Reading
A few years ago, I had a cool, red BMW. It was just a fun car to drive and a great mid-life crisis vehicle. One day we found out that Jennifer and Josh were expecting and I was going to be a grandfather. I went to my friend Tony Bates, (Bates Ford. We’ll trade for… Continue Reading
Our pastor preached on being blessed yesterday. What does it really mean? How do we get blessed? What is the result of being blessed? I grew up in tiny Nazarene churches in SC. We would often talk about being blessed. Grandma Simmons was the best at being blessed that I knew. She also was a great… Continue Reading
Deuteronomy 5 Many Christmases ago, Josh and Jacob gave me a very special present. I had always wanted a chocolate lab, a brown Labrador Retriever, not a chemistry shop where you make chocolate. That would be Doris’s special present. I’m getting sidetracked. We opened the last gift under the tree. The boys went out into… Continue Reading
Jon-Mical is an observer. Jakson is a toucher. My two grandsons are smart, and fun, and full of life, but when it comes to the basic approach to the day-to-day stuff of living they are as different as night and day. Jon-Mical is a few days away from 10. He is quiet, soft spoken, very… Continue Reading
Deuteronomy 3, Proverbs 3, I Corinthians 3 Joan Rivers made a career out of the phrase, “Can we talk?” Somewhere in the middle of her monologue, she would pause, take a deep breath, and then utter the words the crowd had been waiting for all night long. “Can we talk?” Usually what would follow would… Continue Reading