Category Archives: Uncategorized

Big Muddy … a nearly 2,000-man medium security prison in Ina, IllinoisOn Saturday my wife, Jennifer, and I drove to Big Muddy Correctional Center in Ina, Illinois, (Southern Illinois) to visit a man who is serving 4 years.  I met him when he was locked up in the Champaign County Jail.  Saturday he talked non-stopContinueContinue reading “Visiting in prison”

Nearly every morning I read God’s Word at BibleGateway.com.  I read the New International Version 2010 version, often referencing the English Standard Version and the brilliant Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Rarely do I leave the BibleGateway site, except when I prayer the hours and skim my way through the Daily office, mostly for the prayers.ThatContinueContinue reading “The way I read the Bible”

Actually, the night after he came to his senses the Prodigal son could not sleep.  He had never come to senses before — not like this.He tossed and turned that night.  He felt dirty and stupid and embarrassed and incredibly lonely.  He got up at 1am and then 2am.  He was 21 years old –ContinueContinue reading “The Prodigal son rose early…Thoughts from Luke 15”

In Genesis 13:1-18 Abraham and his nephew Lot separate.  Here’s what happened:* Lot journeyed with Abram and Sarai from Haran all the way to promised land.  The childless Abram surely must have grown to love his nephew Lot as if he were his own son. (v. 1)* Still, there comes a time when adults mustContinueContinue reading “Changing my attitude; expressing gratitude”

1.  So many people, including most pastors I know, struggle with reading and pondering God’s Word.  Ken Wilson, a fine thinker from the Ann Arbor Vineyard church, says a good “remedy” to this is to prayer The Hours.  He’s been doing it himself for 10 years and strongly encourages his church members to do theContinueContinue reading “Reading the Word, Reading ourselves”

Very interesting to talk with young adults in particular — that is, Jesus following young adults — about their view of being gay, bisexual and straight.The links below are fascinating to me.  Two are short, thoughtful posts about how lots of young Christians feel and think about homosexuality.  The final one is an article inContinueContinue reading “The winds they seem to be a changin’”

1.  Matthew 16:16-23 (New International Version, ©2010) 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a]ContinueContinue reading “Chilling! … The line of good and evil running through the human heart…”

The River Walk in San Antonio taken from our 20th floor room.Jennifer is a child Ambassador with World Vision. She and several hundred other volunteers do a tremendous work finding people to sponsor World Vision children from around the world.  They all do a great job with such a heart for the hurting children of the world.We areContinueContinue reading “World Vision San Antonio”