John Wesley and John Newton listed it among the works that influenced them at their conversion. Protestants and Roman Catholics alike join in giving it praise. The Imitation of Christ by German Augustinian Monk Thomas a Kempis in the early fifteenth century remains a beloved favorite all over the world for more than 500 years.Continue reading "Always trying to imitate Christ"

Keith Ablow gets it right in his book Living the Truth ...Love everyone, but trust those connected to truth. While everyone is worthy of your concern and empathy...only those who have recognized the source of their suffering, examined it, and grown from it are trustworthy. This is because putting down one's shields, looking in theContinue reading "Discovering who is safe"

Abram was 99 years old when the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am El-Shaddai -- 'God Almighty.'  Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.  I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.The Lord said Abram's name would be changed to Abraham, for heContinue reading "Someone knows my name"

On Monday I was standing on the Northwestern College campus in Roseville, Minnesota.   Specifically, I was standing along Lake Johanna, looking at the ice fishermen out on the lake.Suddenly I heard God's voice in my mind.  "Don, you don't know squat."  It was clear as a bell."You're right," I said.  "You're absolutely right."And then twoContinue reading "What do I really know and who do I think I am?"

God, grant me the peace to accept the things I cannot change.Grant me the courage to change the things I can.And give me the wisdom to know the difference.I need to pray that at least a thousand times a day!

Right after I graduated from college I was hired to work in public relations for the small school I attended.  I drove a school vehicle on official business.  For some reason the top business official at the school got his nose out of joint about the new graduate tooling around, though fully authorized, in oneContinue reading "Envy comes in when you least expect it"

It is encouraing to me that the first fruit of the Spirit in Galations 5:22-23 is love.  People are desperately in need of a loving smile and a kind word.  Part of the famous prayer of St. Francis of Assisi says:"Lord, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,Continue reading "Really listening is equal to really loving"

When I was a boy, the milkman delivered milk to our our doorstep two or three times a week at about 6:30 in the morning.  People across America would step outside to grab their milk and their morning newspaper.  Those days virtually are gone.  Milkmen are remnants of the past and newspapers, sadly, seem toContinue reading "We must subdue it"