Recently an Australian bride confessed to some pretty selfish acts. Apparently, as the wedding preparations began, she sized up her wedding party and decided she needed to make a few adjustments. Specifically, she was concerned that her own...

I know it’s weird, but I recently had reason to take a look at the Australian Coat of Arms (perhaps Harry and Meghan’s visit had something to do with it...). If you take a look, you will notice that the crest contains two animals, the emu and the...

In 2013, there was a terrible airplane crash up in San Francisco. Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was in bound from Korea. The pilots misjudged the altitude of the plane and hit the seawall upon their descent. There were 291 people on board that plane...

During my recent five-week RV trip around the U.S., I made a special stop at Gettysburg.  I have been there several times and I love hearing the stories of the individuals who fought so valiantly on both sides that fateful July 1863. One of my...

Back in 1828, Webster’s dictionary defined an “excuse” as an allowance for a shortcoming or an attempt to vindicate. It sure seems like the folks in our society are experts at expressing classic excuses. If we are late for an activity or meeting,...

I was reading an article awhile back and a racing athlete referred to a stress fracture as a “type two adventure.” He defined it as something that seems fun only when you look back at it, but not while you are doing it. I suspicion that there are...

I just got back from a five-week trip across country. I retired as Head of School in June and wanted to give my successor every opportunity for a fresh start as school began in September. So I grabbed my best friend, jumped into my RV and took off...

I love this quote: “When I am silent the noise of the world fades and I hear the echoes of Eden in my soul, a desire stirs only God can fulfill” (Skye Jethani). It is very similar to the thought Augustine had some 2500 years ago, “You have made us...

I am told that the period after the Civil War, leading up to the end of that century was a very colorful time in American history. War always makes manufacturers wealthy. And there were quick fortunes to be made in railroads, oil exploration and...

I remember when my sandwich at lunch was covered by folded wax paper. And then mom discovered Tupperware and heaven help you if you didn’t bring home the precious plastic box. Today, we stuff sandwiches (and everything else) in zip lock bags...

On the news the other night, they had a report about an autistic young man who had a remarkable experience in a grocery store. As his family did their shopping, the teenager became fascinated with a store clerk as he was stocking shelves. The store...

Years ago I attended a seminar called “Basic Youth Conflicts,” and it changed my life. I was so young in my faith, so rough around the spiritual edges that I needed a totally new way of thinking about life. And the material in those sessions...