I grew up as the eldest son of my family. There were three sons and three daughters born to my parents. The first daughter was stillborn. I have a sister older than me. There were situations that arose all the time where it was great being up at the top of the birth order…
I remember in my days as a student pastor going on ski trips, retreats or simply bowling. I would take 35 or 40 kids on a trip. As a precautionary method of not leaving someone, I would give each of the students a number. When we would stop to eat, once we got back on…
I can remember not too many years ago that I was in a terrible financial position and I really struggled with giving. I’m not currently made of money and I wouldn’t consider myself wealthy, but I’ve learned to love giving. I really believe that it’s something the Lord is constantly teaching me. He is…
I often find myself asking for the favor of God upon my family. My blessings are really too many to count. I do like to hit the highlights pretty often and thank the Lord for my wife and children. As their families expand, my heart of love expands too. I’ve asked the Lord’s favor…
The year of Jubilee in the Jewish culture was in fact a year of freedom. The people who had become poor and had to sell their “family land” were allowed to redeem it. There was indeed no exchange of property. It was much like a “land lease” today. The price of the “lease” was…
When it rains and I’m driving, I’m supposed to keep my lights on. This is really more for others to see me than for me to see where I’m going. When it rains the visibility changes and light help illuminate all the cars that are on the road that I have to contend with.…
I grew up in with a family of five kids and two parents. I guess feeding that bunch was like preparing for a fellowship meal at church. My Mom always managed to pull it off with lots of vegetables that were home grown as well as meat for the major source of protein. We…
I grew up in a home where my Mom and Dad loved each of us dearly. Dad was the main breadwinner, but my Mom also worked outside the home. I sometimes look back and wonder how they provided for five kids on their incomes. We never felt poor, but as far as many other were…
One of my routines or habits is the shave every morning. I grew a beard many years ago in my college days, but I got tired of it fairly quick. I’m glad there aren’t many pictures from way back then. I do have a goatee that has worked for me for years. I may…
There are times when I have expectations of someone and they simply don’t measure up. I’m still learning to be clear in my expectations. If someone has expectations for me and I don’t know what they are, I will certainly have a hard time measuring up or meeting them. As I journey through the…