Where Have I Been?
It's been months since my last post. I'll be relaunching soon but for now I thought I'd catch you up on where I've been and what I've been doing.... Marrying, burying, loving, serving, and crying. I'm a Pastor. Sinning, hurting, ignoring, and forgetting. I'm a...
Is it God or the Devil?
The projector wasn't working in the sanctuary. The freezer in our church kitchen had stopped working...again. The air conditioning in our cafe' (9am service location) wasn't coming on. Our media team person wasn't going to show up (ok, it was Bella who forgot...
You Have More…
You saw that correctly. Bella was in Sunday school and they asked, "How have you come closer to God?" Her answer was through the death of her grandfather and brother. Trey was diagnosed when Bella was five and died when she was nine. Two years later Poppi passed...
The Hidden Danger
Yes, we have experienced yet another tragedy. The shooting in Parkland Florida was horrific and shocking. There can never be a rational explanation for such senseless violence. Those involved can never get back what they lost whether it be lives or innocence or...
How’s My Love?
We pray as a family every night. Joe and Bella pretty much say the same thing every night. They may mix it up a bit given what has happened that day or even say, "No thank you." Granted, one day last week Joe began his prayer with, "OK Google..." We laughed really...
How to Survive
I have been learning a lot lately about a strange term, "Ordinary Misery." You can research it and learn all of the psychotherapy origins and treatment options and strategies but allow me to dumb it down for you. Sadness. Pain. Grief. Things like these comprise...
You’re Not a Bad Person…and Neither are They.
It's probably not in the forefront of your mind. You don't walk around thinking that you're a terrible person. It's in those quiet moments when you let yourself (and others) down. You can't believe that you did it again. Why do you do those things? Why can't you...
Now is The Time
When is it time? How long do you wait? When is it too late? Doesn't it stink when you look back and think, "I really wish I should have..."? Yes, it's the week before/of Christmas. Yes, the year is coming to an end. Yes, we are all so busy with the everything of...
A Great Gift
It's Christmas. What are you getting your loved ones? How much are you spending? What is the gift you are most excited to give? What gift are you sure is going to get the reaction you are looking for? Have you even started shopping? Are you already done? It's...
Challenging Myself
I learned how to golf when I was 12. I started playing volleyball at the age of 14. I didn't learn how to play tennis until high school. Those are the last things (activities) that I have learned how to do. Nothing new or challenging since then. That is, until...
Memories of Leaves and Good Times
I was raking/blowing/mulching/mowing the leaves. My mind wandered back to a few years ago. Bella and Trey played for hours in the leaves. Norman Rockwell never captured such a quintessential American moment. Trey loved the Thanksgiving Day parades. He would sit...
From Tragedy to Triumph
It's happened to you....most likely. You ended up on the wrong side of a terrible situation. This can take place in many ways but I'd like to focus on one in specific today. Betrayal. It's no secret in these here parts that my brother is no longer with the ministry...
Becoming a Man
It was seven years ago at least. Bella kept slamming her bedroom door when she was mad. I had told her that if she did it again that she would lose her door. Sure enough, roughly one week later she slammed it. Quickly and without yelling (or saying anything at...
You’ll Find Him There…
There's always a light at the end of the tunnel...only it very often ends up a train. It's always darkest...before it goes completely black. Ha ha, these are funny misquotes...and funny because many not only believe it to be true but have lived it. Yes, it's...
It’s Never Over
Remember hurricane Harvey? No, not Harvey Weinstein. I'm not even going to begin to expound upon everything that goes with that (not at this time anyhow). I'm speaking of the horrific natural disaster that deluged Houston and surrounding areas earlier this year. ...
What Caused Las Vegas
Horrific tragedy, loss of life, terror, and fear. That is what happened in Las Vegas for sure. A city was traumatized. A nation mourned. Everyone took notice. Why did Stephen Paddock do it? Did Stephen Paddock do it? If not him then who? Regardless of who why? ...
What Consumes Me
Well, I suppose it should say, "What I'm Consuming" but then again you are what you eat so I suppose it IS consuming me. Anyhow, I'd like to lighten the cultural conversation a bit by listing/describing what I'm watching/listening to/even eating. Watching Blacklist -...
Symbolism is the Sin
"THEY DIDN'T COME OUT FOR THE ANTHEM!?!?!!! I'm done with the Steelers! I'm burning my Steelers gear. I'm turning in my season tickets." This is a very typical response to what took place this past Sunday. All across the country people were affected by the actions...
Jay Mitlo
Author of Stand