The Case of the Bighearted Loner

The Case of the Bighearted Loner

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Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, and his family were living in a deplorable Indian slum until they received a 250-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment this week. Why would that be of interest? He happens to be the child star featured in the 2008 academy award winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Not too long after the movie’s release, I read where both of the young child actors featured in the film were still living in dire poverty. It seemed ironic at the time that a…

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Brace for Impact

Brace for Impact

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US Airways Captain Chesley Sullenberg became an overnight celebrity in the wake of his heroic actions during Flight 1549 on January 15th of this year. Birds collided with the jet engines, which placed the aircraft in mechanical danger in a matter of seconds. The captain made an instantaneous decision not to fly the disabled aircraft back to New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Instead, he made an emergency landing in the Hudson River. He of course was applauded by aviation officials for…

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Daddy’s Hands

Daddy’s Hands

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Robert came to live with us in June. The year was 1988. Actually it all began with a very innocent phone call from the director of a church supported boys’ home in Hollis, OK. He casually told me that the house parents at the home were scheduled for a three and one half week vacation. All of of the children under the care of the home would be placed with individual families for a few weeks, while the employees received…

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The Queen of Hospitality

The Queen of Hospitality

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My mother was the Queen of Hospitality. When I was 16 years old, she would make homemade chicken tenders and all of the trimmings, and bring it to the car wash where I worked. My friends inahaled her Southern delicacies. I have tried to replicate her chicken tenders on more than one occasion, but finally gave up. When I was in college, we were welcomed home from Texas Tech football games with homemade stew and cornbread. My friends living in…

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I Was SO in Love!

I Was SO in Love!

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It was late fall in 1980. The leaves were golden, the weather was turning crisp, and my first semester at Texas Tech was almost over. I got off work one night just as the breathtaking West Texas sunset was casting shadows over my drive home. That is when I saw her… I almost ran into the person in front of me in traffic that evening. My heart skipped a beat. I swallowed hard. She was sitting all by herself at…

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Memories of Summers Gone By…

Memories of Summers Gone By…

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Summer is officially here. Mitchell has already approached First National Bank of Dad twice today. I have good summertime memories. I got my driver’s license right after Memorial Day weekend in 1978. My mother had a 1976 Oldsmobile Regency 98. It was a boat… During my first night out with the car by myself I took it up on Loop 289 in Lubbock to accomplish a major driving objective. I would even call that experience a rite of passage…The objective?…

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Pet the Stray Dog!

Pet the Stray Dog!

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When it comes to relating to Jan’s extended family, I have never received passing grades. I have actually had over 25 years to practice too! I have been a resounding relational failure in that area of life. My friends find such a revelation to be shocking. I am generally perceived as being a people person. I love being with my close friends. Many of my friendships have spanned for over three decades. I am always open to the cultivation of…

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Wrong Again…

Wrong Again…

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I really wish that all of the important relationships in life came with an owner’s manual attached. It would save a lot of time and avoid painful relational grief. I have mentioned in previous posts that I did not grow up associating with extended family on a regular basis. That is putting it too tactfully actually…We just never did anything with extended family. There were no big holiday gatherings or family reunions. There were several reasons for such familial isolation….

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A Role Reversal

A Role Reversal

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Roles are reversed this weekend. I am so accustomed to serving families in grief. It is a huge part of my life as a minister, and more importantly it truly is my calling. This weekend I am watching the good people in Ft. Collins, CO serve our extended family, as we try to come to grips with the reality of losing my 17 year old nephew. Neighbors are flooding in with enough food to feed a small army. Friends from…

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There is No Place Like Home…

There is No Place Like Home…

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I am feeling overwhelmed this morning. Last night we received the news that my 17 year old nephew, Stephen Arnold, passed away very suddenly. He collapsed during a basketball game with some friends. At this point, we do not know any further details. It is final examination time at the high school and common assessment testing at the middle school. I thought it would be impossibe for our younger boys to miss any claasses. I was wrong. School officials could…

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