As I type these words, it seems like our world is coming apart at the seams. Nations are at odds with one another. Our own nation is divided in too many ways to try to mention here or discuss in any meaningful way.   I’ve been doing a little thinking about some things I cannot do and what I can do about all of this. While there is a long list of things that, by myself, I cannot do, I’ve thought of a few things that I definitely can do. Let me suggest just a few. I cannot decide the economic, military, social, etc. policies for our nation. I can, and in fact am commanded to,…

I have finally had a summer where I had time to paint and enjoy decorating again! Most summers are so packed with camps, mission trip, vacation, and other activities that I feel like any time at home is needed for rest before the rush of the next school year begins. So far this summer, I have painted the family room, two hallways, a bathroom, and whitewashed the brick fireplace. It has been great! Ahead of the actual painting time is the planning time – a time where you look at colors that work together. “Colors that work together” has been a very interesting concept this summer hasn’t it? In our…

Over the past few weeks and months, we have all had to try to find things to do that might have been different. Some have done nothing but binge shows on TV or Disney+, while others have landscaped as if they were trying out for a new show on HGTV. For one woman in Florida, though, the lockdowns in that state led her to set a new record. She has run a marathon…every day…for over 80 consecutive days. She shattered the old record of 61 consecutive days running a marathon and claims that her plan is to run 100 days in a row. At first, due to lockdowns, she ran…

Five mornings a week I go to the gym and exercise. One of the things I do is ride a recumbent bicycle. Following my knee surgery, that was my surgeon’s recommendation to keep the joints moving. I climb up on that thing and pedal as hard as I can for a pretty long period of time…but I don’t get anywhere!! Miles go by on the screen, but I’m still sitting in the same place. My only consolation is that my knee is making progress and the joint is feeling better. Do you ever feel like you aren’t getting anywhere in other areas of your life? Maybe it’s your family life, or your prayer life, or…

I’ve shared some thoughts before about certain things being labeled as “nonessential.” Most of the time, the distinction between essential and nonessential has to do with severe weather, some sort of disaster, threat to our security, or other similar things. Only “essential” employees are asked to continue to work during these times. However, as individuals and governments are currently trying to deal with the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, other matters are under consideration. Entire industries, services, businesses, etc. are being labelled as either “essential” or “nonessential.” There has not been any kind of uniformity and/or agreement concerning how those terms should be used. The disagreements and debates continue and rules differ on…

So many people are living in difficult times right now. All of the news seems to be bad and it has seemed like every time we turn around something else negative is happening to make us feel helpless and unhappy. Helplessness and unhappiness are tools of the devil. In times of trouble he uses them to make us lose sight of all of God’s blessings. However, along with being tools of the devil, they are also choices we make on a daily basis. Sometimes we choose to feel helpless or unhappy rather than looking to God. We fail to stop and meditate on the positive and good things that have come our way…

Both seas are originally fed partially by the snowmelt from the top of Mt. Hermon. Both are connected to the famous Jordan River. Both are mentioned in the pages of Scripture. One sea is bright and beautiful. TripAdvisor has reviews that call it “peaceful and pleasant,” “beautiful and serene,” and “mesmerizing.” It is a lake long known for providing great fishing and a pleasant place to swim. The other sea is known simply as “dead.” The only life found in it is bacteria. It is so salty that people can’t really “swim” in it, but rather float or rub its mud on their skin.  By now, I’m sure you have…