Category Archives: Uncategorized

So yesterday afternoon I was preaching my heart out at the jail, and, as I often do, trying to help the men get in touch with their emotions.  The emotional health of the groups as a whole is very, very low.The one emotion they all can name is … ANGER.  We discussed this and itContinueContinue reading “Emotions at the County Jail”

This afternoon I officiate at my umpteenth wedding.  Two things I always like to do …1.  Ask the bride's father, "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?"  instead of "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"  It's more elegant, in my opinion.2.  When I make the presentation at theContinueContinue reading “Another Saturday wedding”

1.  In II Corinthians 12 Paul talks about an incredible revelation he received from God. "I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago.  Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don't know; only God knows.  But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard thingsContinueContinue reading “Boasting about the right things…”

The devil said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."Perform, Jesus, perform.  He had fasted for 40 days.  He was hungry, famished.  And besides, what contribution had he made to the world, anyway?  It was about time for him to step up to the plate, don't youContinueContinue reading “Perform, son, perform!”

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 reallyContinueContinue 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 teachContinueContinue 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. ContinueContinue 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 isContinueContinue reading “Pouring out our hearts to God”