So…It’s kind of like crabgrass. It starts out soft and bright green. It feels good on bare feet, the chickens enjoy grazing on it and it is a welcome sight after the brown of winter. And then it happens: Seed stalks begin to grow. Not just upright, they lay down Read more…
(A shared journal entry) O Papa-God, so many things and people to pray for! The girls in my small group – those who come and those who don’t. My failures in following up with those girls. The young men I disciple to lead worship. My failure to contact a potential Read more…
Lest you think following Jesus every day in the everyday is just a catchy hashtag, here is a glimpse into what it looked like for me a month ago… My mind an heart are a bit weighted this morning. I don’t understand. Please examine me and show me what I Read more…
Recently an old friend asked for the words of an old song. I had to dredge my memory for the words, since my only partial copy of them is 90 miles away! Searching the dusty vaults of my mind, I found them, still vital and vivid, but perhaps requiring a Read more…
Rest… Yeah, good luck with that! In our culture, rest is seen as an offense against productivity…and we are what we produce, right? God has been working on me in this area lately. (By lately, I mean over the last few years…I’m a slow learner!) The latest adventure has included Read more…
Yes, again… So, I finished the hügelkultur pit; the brush pile has been reduced to a flat patch of ground covered with twigs and grass. Not a thing of beauty by any means, but at least unobtrusive and less obnoxious. It no longer looks out of control or dangerous. I Read more…
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you Read more…
Good morning, Papa-God, My heart is heavy, my body weary and pained, my mind restless. I need You, Your peace. You know the source of my trouble. I know the circumstances (at least in part) but, You alone know the end from the beginning, and You know the true root Read more…
Not neat and tidy. Nope. This following-Jesus stuff is messy! Questions come up that don’t have any neat solutions. Or even straight-forward ones. Conflicts arise for which there is no resolution. Depression hits and won’t let up. Disease and death still affect and afflict us, cheating and robbing us of Read more…
“You guys are like stubborn playmates on the playground…I suggested a great game full of delight, and you poohpoohed it. When my friend told you a sad story, none of you were willing to listen and cry over it with him.” When I came across this passage (my paraphrase), I Read more…