I read an article recently about a woman who was trying to help her kids understand why Jesus chose to suffer and die when He could have taken a much easier (and less painful) path for our salvation. She tells them of when she did not have enough money to buy a gift to bring to a wedding. […]
At our house we have a standing requirement that all the kids’ cell phones stay in the kitchen when they go to bed. Boy, how the kids hate this rule! They make every excuse in the book as to why they need their cell phones in their bedroom at night. My favorite one is: “I must […]
“Do you have a personal relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?” shouted the blind, Bible-slapping (literally) preacher who claimed his street corner each day beckoning passersby to salvation. That was the question that challenged me each day as I walked the three blocks in downtown Atlanta between college and work. At the time, […]
One of the most common reactions to divorce is fear. That is very understandable. Who wouldn’t be scared if their entire life came crashing in around them? The problem with fear is not being scared, that’s normal. The problem is acting on fear. That’s when fear becomes a lousy strategy. Here is a better strategy: hope. Hope is not about ignoring […]
Gizmo was pacing around in circles. My brother had found this little, skinny puppy shivering and cold underneath his car in the parking lot of his office. He decided to adopt the dog, and he had just returned from the vet after the initial check-up. As is common for puppies, Gizmo had intestinal worms. Suddenly, […]
Do you think that you’re not getting God’s attention by your prayers? We pray heart-felt prayers for intentions that we feel certain God should answer. We pour out our hearts day after day, yet we feel as though nobody is listening. Sometimes we wonder if God even cares. Well, consider the story of St. Monica. St. […]
Yes, it pains me to admit, I am old enough to remember when the first Star Wars movie came out–plenty old enough. (I was a junior in high school.) One of the most memorable scenes in the movie was when young Luke Skywalker was being trained to use a powerful weapon, the lightsaber. He kept […]
Often, I find myself asking our Lord to help me with a problem or to grant a certain outcome. I put all my trust in Him that He will grant my request. After all, I know that He loves me and wants what is best for me. Who better to know what is best for […]
When presented with significant problems, many of us tend to consider only what we can do on our own to solve the problem. That is a very narrow perspective that has a very limiting result. This is what happened with the apostles. Jesus told them to “give them something to eat” and they freaked out. […]
As I look back on the years immediately following my divorce, I often reflect and think,”How did I do it?” Divorce often thrusts us into a world of activity and responsibility that no mere schedule can accommodate. We can attempt to become ultra-disciplined by managing our time, our responsibilities with kids, work, legal issues, and […]