What do you hope for this Christmas? Last week I shared that I was hoping for a Hallmark Christmas. A hope that is unlikely to happen according to my specifications. So instead, I'm choosing to hope for a joy-filled Christmas. Does this mean that hope is a choice? Do...
Over the past few years, I've grown fond of Christmas movies. I'm not talking about high-budget blockbuster hits, however. Instead, I'm fond of the Hallmark Channel, lower-budget, predictable movie studios crank out by the dozens. This suggests that I'm not the only...
I often describe my days as rushing from one thing to the next with little time to work on what can best be done by me. So by evening, I'm spent. But I'm also blessed to have a job where spending time with God is expected. So I try to begin every morning alone with...
This Sunday marks the end of a liturgical year and the last week of our Pray series. The liturgical calendar organizes the year into seasons and highlights traditional times of celebration and reflection. The calendar includes recommendations for scripture based on a...
We completed our reading and study of Pray Like Jesus. by The Rev. Dr. Robert L. Morris, Jr., the week before Thanksgiving. Our series, Pray, examined six prayers, said by Jesus, that help us become more consistent prayers. As we move into Advent, more commonly known...
What do you want for Christmas this year? This is a question that millions of parents ask children as they figure out their gift list and budget. And the answers vary widely, influenced by commercials, friends, and family members. As we age, our list changes, and at...
We've all been there. Some call it that spot between a rock and a hard place where we feel the weight of life crushing us. Bad things will happen, the other shoe will drop, and our day of reckoning is near. And we're desperate for relief. "God help me" is a typical...
There is an idea in the study of human nature known as a tipping point. My computer's built-in dictionary defines a tipping point as small changes resulting in larger, more significant differences. But, unfortunately, definitions fail to adequately convey the feeling...
Depending on several factors, I introduce Cyndi using one or more titles. Occasionally, I'll use "partners" to describe our connection. Partner is a word loaded with layers and implications. From lab partners to business partners and from committed relationships to...
"It's a pleasure meeting you." Yeah, I said it, but I didn't really mean it. We've all been there. We offer a platitude rather than say what's really on our minds. After all, didn't mother tell us more than once, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at...