One of my daughters, when growing up, had a difficult time making decisions. I can remember distinctly the challenge we had as a family going to get ice cream. We quickly learned to order first because if we waited for her to decide, the chances of the ice cream shop closing its doors before we […]
-Read MoreI have fond memories of a slightly chaotic situation. We were enjoying an evening with some friends at our home, which at the time had a small dock on a canal. The evening was pleasant as evenings with friends can be. The moon was full, and the tide was high. The children were playing outside, […]
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Years ago, when our children were younger, we used to schedule “mystery family vacations.” The idea was a brilliant one, I might add. The concept was simple. Lisa and I would devise a fun family vacation but keep it a secret. We would simply share with our children the date of departure, the date of […]
-Read MoreI often have regrets after Christmas. I will regret spending too much time on the unimportant but momentarily critical noise rather than absorbing in the cackling of my many grandchildren, indulging in one of those, “hey dad, what if…..” conversations, hanging with friends, holding the hand of my wife, etc. Many of those regrets stem from not […]
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One day, my wife Lisa said she felt that it was time we sacrifice more. I wasn’t sure what she meant. Was it time to begin to construct an altar in the back yard? What would our neighbors think? What would we do with all the animals? Would Chihuahuas qualify? “Stephan, Stephan, Stephaaaaaaan….I think God […]
-Read MoreTime is an enigma to me. There is no escaping it. It never stops. It marks births, deaths, celebrations and tragedies. Sometimes time moves too fast, and sometimes it seems to move too slowly, though it actually always moves at the same pace. I can think of times when I was waiting in a line […]
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Imagine living your life in such a manner that increasingly no one wanted to be around you. You were so self-obsessed and so focused on your own “so called” success that people and relationships did not matter. Now, imagine something happened that changed all that. Perhaps a book you read, perhaps a sermon you heard, perhaps a caring […]
-Read MoreI am increasingly aware of the hopelessness in our society that seems to exist like a thick fog. I understand that most of that hopelessness is masqueraded with busy lives, conversations centered on frivolous topics and the propensity to show off on social media. The more you stop and listen and filter out the noise, […]
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I was recently reflecting on how I was created. Have you done that? I obviously know that about 55 years ago a sperm and an egg came together. The necessary ingredients belonged to my dad and mom, which is a bit too much information for my old mind to dwell on, but it happened and […]
-Read MoreI typically don’t like to fast. I know it’s important, and it’s encouraged throughout the Bible. I know that there are many benefits to fasting. The clarity and focus that occurs as one intently focuses on Jesus is something supernatural. I have dear friends who fast regularly for extended times and speak of its benefits. […]
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