“What dam?” my sweet daughter asked innocently. “What dam?!” I responded incredulously. My tone conveyed how very annoyed I was by her question. Partly I blame the heat. Afterall, it was 110℉. Partly I blame sweet daughter. How could she ask that question? How could she have missed the d‑a‑r‑n dam! We had just completed a two-hour float trip at …
Spring Clean Your Attitude in 3 Steps
I was standing in my closet the other day, contemplating how badly it needs to be cleaned out. Standing there and thinking wasn’t as productive as actually cleaning it out, but —to be honest— I still felt like I accomplished something. Standing there, I came face to face with reality. My closet is crowded with stuff I don’t need. There …
God Knows I’m Trying
You’ve probably seen this video showing a group of ducklings struggling to follow Mommy Duck up the stairs. If you haven’t seen it, take ten seconds to watch this part of it — it will make you smile! What you see is the twelfth little duckling trying to hop to the top. Eleven have managed, but he seems unable to conquer the …
How to Reduce Fear By Asking What-If
What if? What if? What if? Is it just me, or does each day hold a million or more what–ifs? When I’m at my best (emotionally healthy with a properly adjusted perspective), the what-ifs excite me. What if I get invited to speak at such-and-such? What if I hear back from so-and-so? What if today God uses me to plant …
A Spark More Powerful than the Church
I’ve already admitted to you that I nearly let feelings of intimidation, rebellion, embarrassment and fear keep me from discovering the beauty of the Bible. (Click here to read that post.) Ultimately, a spark of curiosity fanned into a flame that turned those feelings into a pile of ash. I’ve spent most of my life attending and participating in church. …
I’m Normal AND I Read the Bible
Every once in a while, a bumper sticker catches me by surprise. About a year ago, the truck you see in the picture was in front of me at the gas station. I don’t know how you feel about these bumper stickers, but they make me sad.
It Sounds Like A Bad Joke
An orthopedic surgeon, a psychologist, a high-end interior designer, and a lawyer walk into a factory. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but actually it was just my Tuesday.
Why Jesus is Powerless
The Nicaraguan countryside was dark all around us, but the lights of the hostel courtyard shone brightly. The world was quiet except for our easy conversation and the occasional thump of a bug bumping into a light. Some of us sat in chairs, others swayed gently in hammocks. One of our youngest team members, an eight-year old girl, read out …
The One Key to Unlocking Happiness in Marriage
I was nineteen years old when he proposed and this week we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. We’ve been married long enough that if you were born around the time of our wedding, you’re now in college. In other words, we’ve been married a lifetime. And yet, it feels like we are still at the beginning.
Find Adventure and Share Joy Wherever You Go
The note taped on the back said, “Can I join your family, please?” It was a cute way of casting approval on our message. The note was from the calligrapher and the message on the front was our family motto in her artistic hand: