PAN – dem – IC
I found myself edging toward a panic mode this week … not actually to the point of having “wild unthinking behavior” but becoming stagnant while looking at all that needed to be done in a very short period of time. Of Course, the longer I hesitated, the…
VAC’ … 1, 2, 3
We arrived at Meijer’s yesterday afternoon, ten minutes prior to our 3:45 appointment, and the line extended to the back of the store. There we met a friendly employee putting blue tape on the floor to be sure that everyone in the ever-extending line…
Good News – Bad News
As a Christian, I believe God has called us to see that there is good news in every bad news story. Take, for example the basketball teams of our two primary state universities. Both have great coaches who succeeded winning coaches, and both enter each…
Monday, Monday
It was the first Monday after Christmas, our office was closed for the week, and I stopped by church to clean up some of my messes left after the holiday services and make a few notes for next year. I also planned to give Chris a ride to STL to refill…
Immanuel
Immanuel is a name that has always been special to me. Monica and I grew up at Immanuel Lutheran of Frankentrost – a congregation our ancestors helped establish back in 1847. “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive…
Bad Thoughts
I know that at the beginning it was a dream, but at some point – I know not when or where – I became awake. It started at a small, two-pump Marathon station way down south. I pulled in with my Trax to get some gas because I was driving on fumes. Other…
Thinking Ahead
A decade or two ago we developed the habit of decorating our home for Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving. The thought was simple – the season gets very busy, comes with its own particular pressures, and we sincerely enjoy the decorations. By doing…
Kick-Starting Christmas
This year our Advent midweek gatherings at STL we are calling “Advent CHRISTMAS CAR-oling” events. Noon is indoors, but our evening version is at 7:00 in our front parking lot. And – WOW – talk about fun! Week One gave me a huge kick-start into the…
Hopeless in Detroit
“Hopeless in Detroit” is a story similar to “Sleepless in Seattle”. Both are love stories that start with tragedy and despair but end with burgeoning joy. And, I believe, the Detroit story’s ending is the better of the two.
Hacked and Haggard
No, I do not want you to send me an Amazon gift card. To be totally truthful, I would never ask you to get something like that for me. And if, though I pray not, you did purchase one for me, it is most likely on its way to Ethiopia or Nigeria – the…