Months ago I began having a new kind of nightmare. The theme of these dreams is always the same, even though the details vary. Recently it was a horrifying car ride with a former work supervisor. Another time I recall trying to fight my way out of an unwanted hug. Maybe it’s little more than … Read more
It started way back in the early 1900’s, deep down where no one could see it. A complex network of sewer pipe was installed beneath my house with the sole purpose of keeping things concealed. Disgusting things. Things we all try to keep hidden (you know what I mean). And for the first one hundred … Read more
In the days before anybody kept tabs on social distances, my wife and I crammed our family into a gymnasium with several hundred strangers just for fun. It was a Saturday, and volunteers from the University were hosting a “track meet” of sorts for children of all ages. Our kids like to run, we like … Read more
I called Menards this morning to see if they had a facemask policy yet. My kids, being under the age of 16, have already been barred from entering the place, and I needed to know if restrictions had gotten any tighter (I wasn’t interested in a shoving match with the bouncer, I just wanted to … Read more
If uncertainty were a virus, more people would test positive for that one than for COVID-19. Men & women all over the world are dying to know what the future holds, why we’re in this mess, and what to do to make it stop. With information changing by the hour, even Christians are left to … Read more
One of the distinct features of the Holy Spirit is the consolation He brings to His own people. Specifically referred to as our “Comforter”, the Spirit of Christ reserves some of His greatest work for those who grieve. And we praise Him for that. Nobody has a big problem being comforted. The real challenge on … Read more
It’s no secret that Christians are supposed to be “missional”. We read about it and talk about it and think about it. But many Christians aren’t personally convinced that they’re being it…and perhaps you are one of them. You’re not sure how to do it, or what it really means. You’d really like to be … Read more
A HISTORIC TRAGEDY I grew up in a place called “Maiden Rock”. It’s one of many riverside communities that wind their way through our country, along the edge of an iconic waterway. A small township on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River, Maiden Rock occupies a total of 1.18 square miles of beautiful Upper-Midwest … Read more
In July, 1986, George Holtyzer of Belgium, walked 418 miles in about 6 ½ days…backwards! Have you ever tried to walk backwards? It’s hard. It’s so hard that most people give up before they’ve gone very far at all. Even George. As impressive as his effort might’ve been, he quit in less than a week, … Read more
I have dwarves on my lawn. Three of them, and they’re all from the same family. One of them was born in Wright County, MN, while the other two (believe it or not) are grandchildren of the Duchess of Oldenburg. They came up on a truck from Missouri shortly after we moved in 10 years … Read more