Beth went up for the children’s sermon in church on Sunday and gave the whole congregation a heaping helping of BETH. The church member giving the children’s sermon asked a young boy to volunteer to be John. She (the ranking adult) told him that he was going to be “the light.” Then she asked another group of kids to walk up next to the altar and imagine that they were in a…
Say you and some of your friends are hiking through the Hillsborough River Watershed region. Now imagine that you are in the rear and you hear something behind you. You look back and see the largest wild pig you have ever seen. Of course you have never seen a wild pig, so that may not be saying much. Picture yourself turning around and announcing to your hiking partners, in as calm a voice as you…
I am a glutton for punishment, especially if I am the one doing the punishing. I’ve been thinking about some of the friends I’ve had over the years, taking a trip for one down memory lane. I’ve thought a lot about the things I’ve done wrong in those relationships. I tell myself that no one is perfect, but is that sufficient excuse? I guess it depends on what it is that…
I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard a story about people who sell prayer for a living. Apparently, there are people who sell instructional books on prayer. According to the story, one book actually ends something like an infomercial, “I guarantee results in 30 days or your money back.” I know where the producer of the segment meant to take me, and I was there. I was…
I am not overly prone to wishing I had more than I do. There are times however when I fall into a funk. There have been a couple of days since I last wrote that would qualify for “funk” status. I was sitting at work coasting along on automatic pilot, thinking about just about everything but work, when I decided to take a short break. I turned to my laptop sitting on the edge of my desk…
Well, the medical adventures of John continue. On Saturday (the one before Christmas) I learned an important lesson, I am not puncture proof. Cheryl and I have come to the conclusion that Beth has too many toys in our family room. With Christmas on the way, and the inevitable inflow of new toys, we decided to introduce a negative toy flow to the family room. The victim of this decision, other than…
Actually, we already did. This time no one got sick. Just as important: we all had fun. We spent the morning covering the ground that was missed at the Magic Kingdom. We saw the Pirates of the Caribbean and ran around Tom Sawyer’s Island, before taking in the Country Bear’s Jamboree. Beth and I frolicked about Tom Sawyer’s Island like a brother and sister, and Cheryl could do…
Does anyone else wonder what the difference between Iraq and North Korea is? Both countries are ruled by a government that we’ve gone to war with. Both countries are suspected of developing nuclear weapons. Both countries have current rulers that seem a bit too unstable for comfort. North Korea has come out and admitted that they are actively developing “the bomb.” Based on what…
Two events have driven home a true appreciation for what the future may hold for me as a parent. Twice, my daughter’s well being has been broached by strangers. It hasn’t been anything serious; one person with a vocal attitude and another with a loose handle on their gum. While not exactly a full frontal assault, it has been enough to show up on my protective radar. My emotional…