Life with God
In 1969 a suburban Chicago businessman named Kenneth Taylor devoted his daily train commute to paraphrasing the Bible into modern accessible text. It was called the Living Bible and my copy was green. I slept with this book, hugging it as one would a stuffed animal or squishy pillow. At 13, I was too old... Continue Reading →
Mr. Thayer's lecture was veering from the Revolutionary War to incidentals from his childhood. The hands on the wall clock refused to move. I was being held captive in 5th grade history, the last period of the day. The only positive was the window. I scanned the parking lot for our station wagon. Today my... Continue Reading →
I love asking people of faith about their practices. Cathy says she is reading through the whole Bible with the Moody Bible Commentary by her side. She also reads a daily devotional called Jesus Calling. Susie writes verses on index cards and places them on her car's dashboard and the bathroom mirror. She is memorizing... Continue Reading →
You are precious in my eyes. And honored. And I love you. Isaiah 43:4a When I first read this verse I did a double take. How is it I never heard it before? Surely this was a loose paraphrase of the ancient text. And surely God was referring to the nation of Israel, 700... Continue Reading →
Ten round kindergarten faces stare at my mother, eyes saucer-big. She's waving her hands in the air lamenting with the bride's father that the wine has run out. Then she's Mary pleading to her son for a miracle - Jesus reluctant at first, but finally producing the best wine Cana can offer. Mom deftly drops... Continue Reading →
I was sneaking into the kitchen for a nighttime bowl of Cheerios when I noticed the door to my parents' bedroom was slightly ajar. That's when I caught sight of the two of them, my stately mother and proud father, their backs to me, kneeling by the bed - their faces prone on the daisy... Continue Reading →
For my 11th birthday my parents got me a suitcase. It was probably designer labeled. All I remember is it was large and red and foretold of trips to come. The following summer my suitcase and I spent 8 weeks at a summer camp in Maine. That first night the chirpy counselors gave us postcards... Continue Reading →
My niece is sending the following verses to her son as he embarks on his Ranger training in rural Georgia. We may not be facing Ranger-like tests, but when we grow faint-hearted, weary, tired, may these promises bring us hope and encouragement. "Do you not know? Have you not heard that the Lord, the everlasting... Continue Reading →
"I think I ruined my friend's retirement plan," the speaker joked. "My friend had been aggressively planning for the day when he could quit his job and do nothing but play golf. Now, I love golf. But how much golf can you actually play? I decided to challenge his plan. So, when you get to Heaven,... Continue Reading →
