Current Event
As I look back on the 52 years I've been at my profession, I have tried to respond to life's situations asking, "What would God have me do?” Sometimes that direction has come quickly. Sometimes it has taken longer. One night I was called to
Current Event
When I accepted the invitation to guest blog while a well deserved sabbatical is enjoyed by AR and her family, I once again procrastinated. Of course, I then beat myself up trying to force myself to figure out a topic on which to write. And once again, I became one
Current Event
At the age of 56, I find myself in counseling. No addictions, no marriage crisis or nights filled with sleeplessness, yet here I am going every other week to someone I hope can extend a handhold up out of the ruts where I currently reside. A couple of years ago
Daily Life
Father, Mother, and Me Sister and Auntie say All the people like us are We, And every one else is They. “We and They” by Rudyard Kipling I’m on the train going back to Bandung after a day in Jakarta. It’s a nice train – nicer than Amtrak – with
Current Issue
One of the things I enjoy about living in 21st century America where we have relative economic prosperity and technological innovation are all the choices available to me. When I was a kid, we’d go to McDonald’s, and I could choose between the Big Mac, the Quarter Pounder,
Daily Life
So many issues we face in this modern world: I’ve heard it said recently that things aren’t really any worse than they’ve ever been; we just have the technology to know immediately when trouble arises. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know
Current Event
‘Tis time to reflect upon why we do what we do -- on the purpose of the infamous Intramuralist. Contrary to the blogs of many, my goal has never been to make you think like me. Sorry, but I have news for you: there are places where I’m wrong; there
Daily Life
Every now and then I have a piece penned and ready to post and an event arises that trumps what was previously planned. Today is one of those days. I had this great, insightful blog -- noting the commonality between the most pressing current events -- and how they magnify the failure
Daily Life
As our youth baseball schedule wraps up for another year, I am again reminded of how God teaches me through the ordinary. I used to think the God of the universe utilized some cleverly, divine two by fours; then I realized the ordinary is so much more effective... We were
Current Event
I can only imagine... How it feels... ... to have loved ones in a plane intentionally shot down... ... to have actually been on that plane... ... would I have felt anything? ... known anything? ... what my final moments on the planet would have been like... ... what my eyes and face will someday see.
Bio
After celebrating another joyous birthday this week, I’ve decided maybe I should make a few notes of what I’ve learned before I’m 50. I could publish such a post next year, but then everyone might find out I’m actually turning 50. So with minimal tongue, cheek,
Daily Life
This past weekend I had dinner with several couples, celebrating a birthday in one of their families. Over the course of the evening’s festivities -- full of food, fun, laughs, and excellent dialogue, there came a moment which later would cause me to pause. The conversation turned political. It wasn’