I spent an hour one morning at Seagull Beach on the Atlantic ocean in Cape Cod, MA. It was glorious. Magical even. A moment in time, where time is not.1 It was 4:30am. I awoke before the alarm sounded. I felt groggy, but a bit of a thrill as I anticipated a beautiful sunrise at…
As long as I can remember, I have loved the sky. It spawned a love for astronomy. I had books that I would read and re-read. I loved any and all space-themed documentaries. My parents gave me a telescope one Christmas, and in our rural back yard I was able to see some small bit…
This is one of my favorite stories. I read it again today, and this time I noticed something different; a piece of the puzzle I had forgotten, if I’d ever even noticed it at all. Israel was at war with Aram. Modern-day Syria. There were frequent raids of border towns. Imagine that. Where I am…
Recently my wife said to me that when I relay a story in which I play a part, I always paint myself in the best light. That comment surprised me. It was not the whole of her response to me—nor was it said in a time of conflict—but it revealed a way that I am…
I have been reminded of and pondering the fruit of the spirit again recently. The Fruits of the Spirit are an easy Sunday School object lesson. We are all familiar with, and most of us love to eat, fruit. Fruit is colorful, comes in various interesting shapes, and is delicious; and also provides sustenance. Who…
If you think about it, we’re all quite fragile. Some of us mask the fragility with bravado. We even put on a brave face for ourselves, attempting to convince not only the world but our own hearts that we are strong, capable, able, and unafraid. But the truth is that pseudo-confidence could be shattered by…
I have a story to tell you. It started with our oldest daughter wanting a different vehicle. Her recent luck with used vehicles purchased in NY state is abysmal. Each of them were corroded by rust beyond the point of reasonable usage within a year of her acquiring them. So we decided to look for…
A lot can happen in two decades.1 When I posted my first “blog” 20 years ago this date, I was a musician, writing, recording, and performing my songs anywhere and everywhere across the country. I was a young, recently-married father of two (with one on the way) who preferred air-conditioned, indoor life. A cup of…
I identify with Martha. That might seem odd, in that I am a man, but I think I do. I’m not talking about any sort of gender identity crisis, mind you. Rather, as I was taking care of many details around my home today (which I find myself doing quite often) I was reminded of…
A good friend remarked recently that death or dying came up frequently in our family’s conversations. His comment was more a good-natured jab, I think, as we were all enjoying funny thoughts and stories, joking around. But I have thought about that since. I wondered if we perhaps give death—one of God’s enemies, defeated by…