You've heard people say, "Our family puts the fun in dysfunction." Well, all families do, and mine is no exception. But speaking of dysfunctionality ... Whew, let me tell you... I've just finished Mary Trump's (Donald's niece) new book Too Much and Never Enough -- How My Family Created The World's Most Dangerous Man. I'mContinue reading "Putting the fun in dysfunction"

When I was a boy my mother would say, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all.”  She didn’t always follow her own advice. Nor have I. Of this I am sure, the tongue has the power of life and death, and the Proverbs are right: “Those who love toContinue reading "What will guide our civil discourse in an age of outrage?"

In late February during my 8th-grade year, a city-wide church meeting came through Colby, Kansas. The evening meetings featured a 6’5” preacher, a former NFL defensive tackle named Bill Glass. Speaking to all 5 kids at the dinner table, my mother laid down the law, like she rarely did. We all would attend each nightContinue reading "Water baptism followed by a baptism of fire"

** About 10 years ago I discovered the writing of pastor John Piippo from Redeemer Fellowship Church in Monroe, Michigan. A friend told me about his blog, and I started reading it. I was taken with his insights, particularly about prayer. After reading Piippo for a year or so, I called him and we hadContinue reading "The False Self & the True Self"

Last Sunday the Gospel reading used by many churches was the story in Luke 24 of the resurrected Jesus meeting two disciples (Cleopas and his partner) on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. (The painting here is Caravaggio's rendition of Jesus about to break bread with the two disciples at the end of the EmmausContinue reading "Can our hearts still burn within us?"