I just reread Sonja Lyobomirsky's book on happiness last week while waiting around in the court house to see if I would be selected for a jury.  I read it last August for the first time, and remembered again how much I really liked it.  I do not like cheesy self-help books.  This one is reallyContinue reading "Lower your stress … be happy :)"

St. John of the cross wrote that God sends us "the dark night of loving fire" to free us.  He believed these to be the 7 deadly spiritual imperfections of beginners that must be purified:1.  Pride ... we have a tendency to condemn others and become impatient with their faults.  We are selective in who can teachContinue reading "Being set free for the journey along the narrow road…"

Pictured here are Kyle, Ellen and Ethan Benefield, standing with a school principal in Reynosa, Mexico.Kyle and Ellen are spending their young married life working as missionaries in Mazatlan, Mexico.  I have known them for years and stayed in their home for a week (in late February and early March).I really respect and admire them. Continue reading "The next generation … bring them on"

Some people rarely pour their hearts out to God.  And yet, Psalm 62:8 reads, "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."Dan Allender says "Ignoring our emotions is turning our back on reality.  Listening to our emotions ushers us into reality.  And reality isContinue reading "Pouring out our hearts to God"

I am working at improving my eating... mostly no snacking, or at least bad snacking [cheese and crackers and little miniature Snickers] and no big desserts.  I love desserts ... desserts with big portions.The kind of work I am proposing for myself takes intentionality and practice.  I have to train my brain to adopt a behavior thatContinue reading "Watching people eat … watching me eat"

These are the Vineyard pastors who came to the hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, last week and loved on me when I got my special present ... a heart stent.They are part of a two-year course called The Center for Excellence in Christian Leadership (CECL).  It is sponsored by the American-Baptist sponsored Green Lake Conference CenterContinue reading "The guys…"

This will surprise some of the readers of my blog who are not in touch with me on a daily basis.  But very early Monday morning I had a heart attack while at Green Lake, Wisconsin.  I awoke in the middle of the night with extreme discomfort in my chest.  I was about to helpContinue reading "Grateful … very grateful"

Patricia Hampl her book In Search of the Contemplative Life, says ..."Prayer only looks like an act of language.  Fundamentally it is a position, a placement of oneself."  I think it was C.S. Lewis who wrote that our best prayers are one where no words are spoken.Absolutely!