I have a door I use daily. Unlock-take hold the knob and twist-open-enter-close behind me. Routine, right? Except the other day I unlocked-took hold the knob and twisted-the door would not open. The knob would turn and the lock worked but it would not engage the latch bolt. Good news, I had another door I could enter and from the inside I was able to change out the doorknob. It’s made me realize how much of my life is routine taking no more brain energy than going in and out

T Today I did the dishes. No awards please, all I did was add a little soap and push a button on the dish washer. Later I’ll empty the washer of dishes, clean and ready to use. Which of course means they’ll get soiled again and I’ll need to “wash” them again and then again. If you’ve spent time in the Bible books of Leviticus and Numbers you’ve read of the many cleansing sacrifices for sin forgiveness. Sacrifices needed for cleansing again and again. If you’ve spent time in t

24 Expecting. When a woman is about to have a baby it’s what we say: “she’s expecting”. The baby’s not here yet, but is coming, is being formed. There’s a realness about the word, expecting. It’s more than just a hope or a wish, it’s definitely coming, you can plan on it…it’s just not here yet. Amazon uses the word to reassure customers: “expect delivery by”. It’s like, once you’re given an expected date it’s already yours, just not yet! Once John the Baptist sent messengers

Today is recycle day. As you drive through my neighborhood, you’ll find by the curb overflowing blue recycle waste cans which will be gathered, sorted and according to its name, recycled, possibly to reappear in my or your house in its new form. If you’ll allow me, recycling is a great parable of the kingdom of God. To begin with, you and I are the recyclers. Maybe this will help: Colossians 3:13 Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 1 John 4:11 since God so loved us, we also ough

God tells us where: (Micah 5:2)“But you, Bethlehem, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” And God tells us by whom: (Isaiah 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.  And He tells the why: (Isaiah 9:6-7) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be

This is the first week of our Advent Season, the week of Hope. And I’m drawn to one of my favorite Christmas characters, Ebenezer Scrooge. I know, odd choice considering his name has become synonymous with a grumpy, stingy, miserly Christmas hum-bug. But that’s the point. If you read the last chapter of Dicken’s classic, you’ll read where Scrooge becomes un-Scrooged. The theme of A Christmas Carol  is hope. If Scrooge can change, there’s hope for all of us, even the demon lad

When I was a young kid and it was time for lunch or supper I’d get called to the table where the meal was laid out ready to eat, and I ate. Eventually I learned someone prepared the meal (mom) and someone worked  to earn and purchase food (dad) and even later I learned farmers grew, truckers transported, factories processed. And as my learning increased so has my gratitude for what it takes to put a meal on the table. Psalm 65 attributes to God all the authority to provide. J

This morning I had 15 voice mails on my phone. Every one of them was an automated call and it was a pleasure to hit the “delete” button. I have to do this daily knowing I will wear out the delete button but every now and then there’s a genuine message I need to hear and respond to. I’m tempted sometimes to “select all” and delete, but one of those 15 might matter so tomorrow I’ll run through my voice mailbox again. Then there’s those times I’m put on hold and that automated v

Fire burns. I know that’s not a “news alert”, but it is important wisdom. As soon as our babies begin to walk, explore every cabinet, open every drawer, we warn them to never  touch the stove! “It’ll burn you.” Candles are put on shelves, fire grates around fireplaces, and oh yeah, “don’t play with matches”. Fire burns, be wise! However, with that knowledge we warm ourselves, cook our food, energize our vehicles, generate electricity. With the fear/respect of fire comes the k

If you voted yesterday (I’m sure you did!) then as you reached the poll worker you handed them your I.D. as proof of eligibility to vote. The same I.D., with the yellow star, gets you through security as you board domestic flights. And so whether you vote, fly or any of the other occasions an I.D. is required. If you have it, it removes any doubt about who you are and lets you pass. The Psalmist asks in Ps. 15: 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your h

“the people living in darkness have seen a great light;”  Matthew 4:16 These are the words of Jesus defining the hope he brings into the world. And today my heart and mind is with the people of Jamaica and those still in the path of hurricane Melissa. Though the light of day has come they will be living in the darkness of a broken power grid, loss of homes and life, blocked corridors needed for basics (water, food). I don’t trivialize their suffering having been through the w

So your local convenience store just got robbed. (this is fictional) The first request of the investigating officer is, “do you have a security camera”? It’s hard to go anywhere where you are not being watched on a “security camera”. And I guess we call them “security cameras” because they are keeping eyes out for trouble, for the bad guys. That, I suppose, gives us a sense of security. But while the cameras keep an eye out for the bad guys, who’s keeping an eye out for the g

“Your device needs to restart to install updates.” You’ve probably seen that notification on your phone or computer. “Restart” means the system needs to shut down in order to incorporate the new. Sometimes we all need a restart. It doesn’t mean something’s broken or not running smoothly, it means the God of grace is continually offering new things out of His abundant love. The psalmist gives us a “restart button” Psalms 37:5,7 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him…Be stil

I have some experience as a swim instructor, that is I taught my three daughters to swim. I have no specific tutorial techniques, only...

Not long ago I had a door slam against my arm. No serious injury but it did leave a nasty bruise. For the most part, as I went about my...

I was winding my way through a checkout line of a local store when I noticed, among all the gadgets they place in bins along the way, a...

STRAIN: there are multiple uses for the word. Cooks will strain pasta of water and veggies of impurities, athletes will speak of a muscle...

Small talk conversation seems to always include something about the weather: “sure is humid”, “kind’a hot for this time of year”, and so...

We have a hummingbird feeder in our back yard and enjoy watching their antics. If you’ve watched them you’ve taken note of their selfish,...

When’s the last time you celebrated a punishment? Or more precisely, a curse? In a few days you will: Labor Day. Let me remind you....