The struggle is real. All too often we travel a road that has been charted by others. Parents, schools, coaches, the public or friends …what’s expected of us, if you will. Some swim against the stream and go into ministry, art and culture, teaching; the more humbling and less well compensated, and some feel a calling from above to be true to thyself. Something that motivates you because it just feels right. Back in the 1970s I met Rita Coolidge, who was touring and becoming a big rock ‘n’ roll star, and I was doing an interview with her for […]

At a recent Sunday church service at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Lead Pastor Doug Sauder said, “Famous last words” and at first it seemed to be humorously presented as just that: a little humor, then he gave numerous examples with biblical citations, too many to jot down at that moment. Later, I thought hmm, one that I remembered and did write down, “They couldn’t hit an elephant from this dist…” Attributed to Major General John Sedgwick, during the American Civil War at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 9, 1864. While chiding his men for ducking Confederate sniper fire, he uttered, […]

Who could ask for a better scenario if you’re a ministry that has just been vetted and approved for a grant request from StrikeForce Giving? If you’re a potential donor, looking to bless a ministry that is close to your heart, but you have trepidation, wondering if they’re a good steward of their donations, as we all hope they are, you rely on the sincerity of their intentions, but also deeply feel how do I know they will fulfill the promises that they make? I can’t think of a better way than having the endorsement of StrikeForce Giving where vetting is painstakingly done with a deep […]

I loved the curmudgeon Andy Rooney, the longtime 60 Minutes commentator who talked about Christmas many times over the years. While he didn’t have a single, definitive “Christmas essay,” his reflections tended to circle the same themes. Here’s the meaning of Christmas in the spirit and tone of Andy Rooney, without inventing any word-for-word quotes: Christmas, Rooney often suggested, wasn’t about spectacle or perfection—not the perfect gift, the perfect tree or the perfect family gathering. He had a way of pointing out that people work themselves into exhaustion trying to make a holiday “special,” when the things that make it special are usually […]

Now I feebly sense why Jesus spoke in parables so often. There’s a lot of meaning in subjects and ideas that can be misinterpreted without a little context, because words alone are sometimes inadequate to express a thought properly. The impact of the passing of Charlie Kirk touched a lot of people in incredibly different ways — some with hate, but many with love. But I’ll come back to that thought. In my attempt to formulate some historical reference for such a ferocity of emotions — so many people caring so deeply, the confluence of such intensity — well, let […]