Foundation and Fire

Our son does something at the breakfast table, each morning, that started off funny, but then got kind of, well, difficult: Jack: Dad, how you doing? Dad: I'm good buddy, how are you? Jack: Mama, how you doing? Mom: Pretty good, thanks for asking! Jack: Dad, how you doing? Dad: Uh, I'm good man.  How's … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic: But Are You Really Happy? →

Steve Cuss was a very young graduate of a Bible College.  His first call in ministry was to serve as a chaplain in a Level One trauma unit.  On his first night, he describes walking into this scene, in the Intensive Care waiting room:"There were more than a dozen family members, most of them screaming, … Continue reading When Someone’s Son Is Killed… →

  After he turned forty years old, Ray Kinsella decided to take up farming. He’s never done it before. But he, his wife and daughter move to Iowa, and buy a cornfield. One day, when he’s out in the cornfield by himself, he hears a voice: “If you build it, he will come…” Then, Ray sees … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic: Forward, Together? →

  My  two year old son calls him "Dark Gator", but to the rest of us he's "Darth Vader" - the baddest Sith Lord on the block; unforgiving commander of the Empire; Intergalactic HR officer who does not want to field your puny work complaint, thank you very much. He's also the voice in my … Continue reading Planting in a Pandemic, Part 4: *Darth Vader Voice* “I Find Your Lack of ‘Expertise’, Disturbing…” →

  We were not expecting it, but on Friday evening we got an amazing, grace-filled treat: Our daughter put on a (very short, impromptu) ballet recital in our Living Room. What made this so special, was our daughter's journey to that day: For more than a month before COVID-19, she wore a boot that immobilized … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic, Part 5: And Your Child Shall Lead You… →

Isn't it good that I - as a father and husband - would never, ever want to have as much control over my family, as my two year old son, Jack?  Obviously, I've left behind two-year-old-James' belief that his home environment should completely serve him. Waiting to hear my wife laugh out loud, as she … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic, Part 4: Control? →

Okay, it took a Pandemic for me to stop disliking the term "self-care".   I've distrusted "self-care" for at least a couple of reasons: First: I love the Apostle Paul.  Yes, he wasn't Jesus (Duh!), but he threw himself completely into the work God called him to do, and he was a church planter to boot!  … Continue reading Planting in a Pandemic, Part 3: “Self-Care”? →

The comparison game was bad before COVID-19.  You know the feeling: "I'm not matching up.  We're not keeping up with the Joneses.  They're at least two steps ahead of us, honey!" Keeping up with the Joneses existed long before social media, but - man - it seems to have exploded, since.  No one posts video … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic, Part 3 →

I didn't get my car inspected, when I should have.  The inspection sticker sits dead center, on the front windshield - can't miss it; can't hide from it.  It got to be one month, two, three.... six.  I was just too busy, I kept telling myself.  I wouldn't get stopped, and if I did, the … Continue reading Planting in a Pandemic, Part 2 →

A good friend totally sold me on the idea.  I bought it hook, line, and sinker: I had not used a paper planner for at least three years, but I would "love" this, cool new planner. The new paper planner had a place to list goals: 1 year; 5 years; 10 years out.  It had … Continue reading Parenting in a Pandemic, Part 2 →