A good friend of mine recently threw a party for her father’s birthday. And this particular birthday was a big one…Her dad turned 90 this year. He is very fortunate in that he is still very active physically. Actually that is a major understatement. Over the past ten years he has climbed to the top of Diamond Head in Hawaii; taken a gondola from peak to peak in Whistler and gone whitewater rafting, both in British Columbia, Canada; gone snorkeling…
We have a “Dale” at camp this week, and the truth is every child that has been abused or neglected needs one. I saw Dale for the first time Monday night when I went out the camp with a group of men to relieve the male counselors for a couple of hours. We show up in the evening, so they can get a break to shower and relax after a full day of serving a special group of children. As…
When I tell people that my firstborn turned 23 this past week, they tell me that kids often come home after leaving the nest. I always listen and smile politely, but they obviously don’t know my Randall. He was my child that gave us the “who are you look” when we would come to pick him after staying with his favorite caregiver as a baby. And he was the same child that never looked back when I dropped him off…
I am a pretty guarded person. I am especially guarded in what I share regarding my personal life. Part of that is a professional hazard. I stand up and speak to 600 people nearly every Sunday. I might as well paint a target across my chest. People feel free to tell me what they think at will. To be perfectly honest I speak to a group of extremely gracious people. Their comments are often very kind and supportive. But nevertheless…
Some assembly required. I really don’t like that phrase at all. For starters I don’t follow directions very well. And the truth is I am just not that handy to start with. As far as I am concerned things that require some assembly just need to remain on the shelf. I have been reminded over the past several years that relationships often require some assembly too. And I am all about successful relationships. I can’t stand the thought of anyone…
Some people just have a complete inability to tell the truth. In working with police officers over the years, I have consistently observed people telling bold faced lies that are easily disputed. In a lot of cases, it would have been much easier just to tell the truth in the first place. Recently I observed that a lack of truth telling can take on more than one form. There are human beings who simply cannot express the truth about other…
As a volunteer law enforcement chaplain, I have walked a delicate line for over 22 years. I am a Christian minister, and I so I have a solemn duty to act in a way that represents Christianity properly. But I am also called to serve in an environment that is often dark. More specifically I am called to serve the officers that share my Christian values, and I am also called to serve those that do not. I am expected…
My mother cried the day my dad traded off our light blue 1969 Plymouthstation wagon. I recall rolling my eyes and thinking that I had a mother who was just a tad kooky. 38 years later I think I understand how she felt. The appliance man just loaded up the washer machine I purchased when our oldest son was an infant. I am glad to report that the kind man from Sears did not have to offer me a handkerchief…
In June of 1985, I took my first graduate level course in theology at Abilene Christian University. Dr. Royce Money, who was later named president for ACU, taught that course on pastoral skills for ministry leaders. I learned principles in that class that I still use today. In 1988, Dr. Charles Siburt joined The Graduate School of Theology faculty at ACU. He soon assumed responsibility for teaching ministry courses in the curriculum for graduate level students. Dr. Siburt endured me…
Father’s Day is tomorrow and there will be no whining. Complaining is not allowed. Pouting is forbidden. There will be no self centered negative emotions. Having a bad attitude is totally out of the question. I really should provide some form of an explanation… My first Father’s Day without my dad was in 1978. It occurred a few weeks after my 16thbirthday. It was a sad day indeed. And even though I am blessed with three remarkable sons I still…