When are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
We love to sing that joyful, and slightly humorous, song at Christmas time. But does anyone know what those twelve days are about? Is it...
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- Dec 11, 2020
Xmas vs Christmas
As we are now halfway through December, anticipating Christmas, I would like to put the minds of many of you to rest over the widespread...
- Nov 27, 2020
Turning Junk into Good Stuff
In today's world of COVID impact, in which EVERYONE has had their lives changed, we each struggle with how to deal with these changes. We...
- Nov 13, 2020
Listening 101
"Listening is easy. What I need to know is what to say." Those are the words of a frustrated student who was exasperated with such a big...
- Oct 29, 2020
God Isn't Simply 'Practical'
God isn't 'practical' about our world, skimping on things that don't pay. He's got mountains and deserts that seem to be a poor idea when...
- Oct 15, 2020
A Phrase That You, Too, Can Use
Near the end of a pastoral visit to a wonderful Christian lady, she interrupted the flow of our conversation with a concern she was...
- Oct 2, 2020
An Extremely Kind Gift
There is one incredibly kind sentence we can say to everyone. It is a gift that can be given to everyone. There are no exceptions. The...
- Sep 18, 2020
The Broken Window Approach
In New York City, a unique philosophy guided efforts to make the city clean, attractive, safe and secure. It was known as "The Broken...
- Sep 3, 2020
Properly Understanding Humility
I once asked for a volunteer to play the piano. No one moved. Finally, someone coaxed a young man forward. And then, he played superbly!...
- Aug 20, 2020
Stop Worrying; the Lord Holds On To You (part 2)
One of the most heart-breaking experiences I have had as a Pastor or friend is hearing fears from dying people about their eternal...
- Aug 6, 2020
Stop Worrying; The Lord Holds On To You
The saddest visits I have made as a Pastor are those in which God's good people were scared about their eternal security in their dying...
- Jul 23, 2020
Your Smile Can Heal
I was walking in the mall, pondering a couple of discouraging encounters earlier in the day. A young boy suddenly was blocking my path...
- Jul 16, 2020
Laughter Is Still Good Medicine (Part 3)
I have been sharing with you, in the previous two blogs, my thoughts on the fact that cheerfulness, hope, laughter, and spirit-lifting...
- Jul 3, 2020
Laughter is Still Good Medicine (Part 2)
Reader's Digest has made the claim for decades that laughter is the best medicine. Several very convincing stories have been published ...
- Jun 18, 2020
Laughter is Still Good Medicine
We had finally settled on the suitcase we wanted to buy and had made our way to the checkout to make the payment. Having completed this,...
- Jun 4, 2020
We Showed Up . . .
As most of my readers know, we held an annual Care and Kindness Conference at the Crystal Cathedral years ago. At our request, some of ...
- May 22, 2020
The Gift of Tears
Jerry told how he once shared with a friend a painful emotional wound he had suffered. "She began to cry as I shared," he said with...
- May 8, 2020
Positive Proof About Prayer
Years ago, someone did some 'care'-ful scientific research on prayer. Milton A. Drake, Jr., M.D., wrote a summary of the study, Positive...
- Apr 9, 2020
Easter Means Life; Easter Shows Love
One short sentence, spoken by Jesus, is occupying my heart and mind. Jesus said this on the cross in the middle of his unspeakable pain....
- Mar 26, 2020
A Soft Answer DOES Turn Away Wrath
It's reassuring to doubters, such as I, to find science reinforcing Biblical ideas. Here's a new development I read about in a magazine:...
- Mar 5, 2020
Do You Have Trouble Accepting Compliments?
The man had done something very helpful for me, so I gave him a small gift in appreciation. He took it, wadded it up, dropped it on the ...
- Feb 7, 2020
Friendliness Is Not A Feeling
When you meet someone, or merely pass a person on the sidewalk, a friendly greeting is called for — most of the time. You do not have to...
- Jan 10, 2020
That's Phony!
"I couldn't put my arm around her and hug her if I wasn't feeling like it. That would be phony." 'If it's phony you shouldn't do it', is...
- Jan 7, 2020
Thank Someone This Week
I think it would be a good idea if someone promoted "Thanksgiving" cards. No doubt Hallmark is trying, but people don't buy the idea...