We have a big backyard. In fact, we own two acres. We live just outside of town here in Texas, which gives us the occasional opportunity to run into wild animals–and loose tame ones–on our property. We’ve played host to possums, snakes, wild pigs, and lots of squirrels over the years. We like it. It’s … More Two Rabbits
I grew up in a very traditional family. My father was a veteran of WW II and was a blue collar worker. My mom, a new Christian, worked extra hours to put the four of us children through Christian schools. My father had high expectations of me, the only boy, but they were based on … More Sins of the Father
Okay, I’ll admit it. I have stress dreams. For many years, my stress dream was the same as everyone else’s. The typical one of showing up in a public place, usually in class, or at work, or at church, in my underwear or with even less on. And what’s interesting is that that dream is … More Stress Dreams
1988. I’m a graduate assistant, teaching my first class at California State University, Chico, and I’m petrified. I wait out in the hallway as the students file into the classroom, afraid to look them in the eye. Then when class is about to begin, I go in, sit down at the desk in the front, … More School’s Out…Forever
This year marks fifty years since I graduated from high school, and on April 10 my graduating class and I will be meeting on Zoom to get together and celebrate what we have accomplished in the past 50 years. In honor of that milestone, I wrote this post today: Dear lost teenager: It doesn’t really … More Advice to my 17-year-old self
Today’s the first day of classes. Whew. It’s been a busy month since Christmas. Dec. 23 my wife got total knee replacement surgery, and since then I have bounced around from taking care of her to taking care of the house to taking care of classes for my final semester of teaching at Southwestern Adventist … More The Value of Learning by Not Thinking
It’s two days before Christmas, my son’s birthday, and I am sitting in the waiting room of Harris Methodist Southwest in Fort Worth, Texas. My wife, Shelly, just left me to go to the surgical wing for a total knee replacement surgery that she’s been needing and anticipating for a long time. If all goes … More There are no atheists in foxholes…or hospital waiting rooms
Yeah, I know. By this time, you’re sick and tired of all the political talk. Well, frankly so am I. I live in a red state (Texas) with a distinctly blue family (at least the ones under my roof). And sadly, even though the election is over (yay!), I suspect that Facebook and Twitter will … More A Red/Blue State of Mind
If he hadn’t died in 1993, my father would have been 97 today. This poem is in honor of him. God bless you, Dad. CONTENT Tired eyes have seen so much. Blowing dust that swallowed lives. Smallpox, caravans of desperation. California, the promised land. Weathered hands have touched the world. A seaman’s tunic … More Poem: “Content”
The relationship between a father and son is complicated. Some sons idolize their fathers, others hate them. For some, the relationship is somewhere in between. Because the job of a father is to not only take care of and protect his family, but to prepare his children for their lives after they leave the security … More With Gratitude, On Father’s Day
