That isn’t a birthday cake: it’s a brushfire. I mean, really: put 246 candles on anything and light them up. The smoke alarm will signal an evacuation order, and the party will be over before you a scoop the ice cream and pass out the spoons. It’s pretty much official: the Declaration of Independence was […]

Family rituals are seldom hammered-out in a strategic whiteboard session involving multiple generations. Most often, they are developed over time: a one-off becomes a rinse-and-repeat routine. When our kids were growing up, shopping lists produced jumbo-size selections. Between the girls and their friends, we were more likely to run out than to run over. Nowadays,

Alone. During the national shutdowns in 2020/21 – in response to the covid pandemic – millions of Americanas found themselves isolated within their homes. Many worked from home using digital connectivity but found themselves with large blocks of time to fill with something that would grab their attention and give some relief from the unrelenting

In Washington DC – inside the beltway – speeches are valued at a dime-a-dozen. Everyone has something to say, it seems; many of them have no audience interested in hearing them say it. Last Tuesday was a bit different. As the toxic cloud of pressing issues swirls over the branches of government, in the White House

June: it’s Pride Month, and the rainbow reminder is ubiquitous. Is that where we’ve arrived, as a nation and culture? Psalm 10 gives timeless insight: “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy

It’s that time of year: we’re in the middle of significant “special days” that demand attention and recognition. Retail advertising – on-line and in-print – will be running “Dads & Grads” as a key theme. Fathers – for families that are still aligned with the traditional pattern of father/mother/kids who are linked long-term – will

What if you didn’t get the whole story in Sunday School? Bible teachers are incredibly valuable in the work of helping believers grow in their faith through their understanding of Scriptures. That’s foundational for everyone; thank God for the teachers! The gravity of Scripture – given their authorship by God, and their intended purpose to

Symbols are important; when symbols depict reality, their importance amplifies. Four years ago Saturday was a historic moment: on May 14, 2018, the Embassy of the United States in Israel moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some argue that the location of the Embassy is simply symbolic, but it depicts a reality that is incredibly

This is a big day, for Cheri and me. Today is my release from medical confinement at the City of Hope, freed to shift from an in-patient status to out-patient, allowing my continuing treatment to occur while commuting from home. For over 100 days, I’ve been in isolation; my freedom was sacrificed to receive the

Greetings from my luxurious hospital room at the City of Hope in Duarte, California! After 60 in-patient nights in the last 110, I can’t wait to re-emerge in a couple of weeks to open air and sunshine! Hospitality! I love the sound of that, don’t you? In our culture, hospitality is both hosting traded between