Priorities
Lately I have been struggling with sorting out my priorities. The final third of the year is always a challenge, moving from the summer into a very busy “program” time of the year, but this year seems more difficult than usual. My task list…
Old Dogs
As I drove to a three-day training event on Monday, I figured it would generally be attended by older pastors. What I was not really expecting is that I would be the oldest among the 20. However, by at least a year or two, I was!
Dark and Wet
Generally speaking, I would rather drive in a snowstorm than in rain at night, but there I was Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. driving home on I-94 in the pouring rain. The scene was not much different the following day at 6:30 a.m. as I drove back to church,…
Creation’s Glories
This year’s Florida drive was a little different than most years – primarily because it was in September, not March/April – though we did follow our usual path. We take the eastern route down, driving around Columbus and through Virginia, West Virginia,…
Stepping Away
A friend and colleague of mine recently stepped away from social media for a time. He is back now, I believe, with the ‘intentional interim’ time now completed. Personally, I have not recognized the same issue for myself – though stepping away from…
Inertia
Inertia: A tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. Inertia: A property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless that state is changed by an external force. Inertia + friction…
Two Steps Forward and …
I know the expression is “two steps forward and one step back,” but there are times when this sounds a little too optimistic! On those days we might instead be saying “two steps forward and 1.75 steps back.” Or one may feel as though reversing the…
Wishing and Waiting
One week ago last night Miguel Cabrera hit career home run number 499 and the waiting began. As the Tigers came home to play the Indians and then the Angels, Comerica Park filled with fans who were wishing they could see number 500 in person. However,…
On the Road Again
I have often said that if I could simply spend all my days visiting with people and drop the rest of my responsibilities as pastor, I would be just as content as I am today. Not being able to visit people was probably the most difficult part of the…
Friday Frivolity
That morning I wrote my Thursday’s Thirst. In the afternoon I visited a beautiful, assisted living facility close to Lakeside Mall. As I walked from my car to the entrance, I saw that they were all set to complete repairs on the sidewalks and…