Archive for August 2018

FRIENDSHIPS – Issues of Community

If you have kids, you might remember the nursery rhyme that goes something like this: “The animals went in two by two, Hurrah! Hurrah! The elephant and the kangaroo, Hurrah! Hurrah! The animals went in two by two, the elephant and the kangaroo.” Pretty catchy lyrics, huh?! The two by two part reminded me of…

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SECRETS AND HIDDENNESS – Issues of Fear

The Secret Life When I was in college, I was in a fraternity. For the most part, it was an amazing experience. Lots of fun. Great friends. A brotherhood with a common bond. We even accomplished several community and campus projects. One of the bonds holding the fraternity together was the initiation into membership. I’m…

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DEALING WITH PAIN – Issues of Fear, Relationships

Sickness brings out the best and the worst in all of us. We live in the real world and the reality of illness is a given. We have to deal with it. Most of the time, sickness is recoverable. You know… coughs, colds and the occasional projectile vomit. It’s part of growing up. It’s a…

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PASTOR’S FEAR AND ANXIETY – Issues of Fear, Depression, Anxiety

Okay. It’s time for some gut wrenching transparency. I’m afraid and I’ve spent the greater part of my adult life living with fear and anxiety. Does that surprise you… especially when you realize that I’m a pastor of a great church. Where’s the faith baby? Why don’t you apply what you teach? Don’t you believe…

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FRIENDSHIP – Relationships

Some people are “people magnets.” The people who are always surrounded by a plethora of people. Don’t you love that word, “plethora?” It means an overabundance. In high school I envied people magnets. They were the life of the party, the center of conversations, the talk of campus. Most often, not always, they were the…

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PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY – Issues of Integrity

Personal Responsibility According to the 21st century bastion of knowledge, Wikipedia, the expression “passing the buck” is said to have originated from poker, in which a marker was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the…

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PARENTS AND KIDS – Issues of Family

My kids are grown. They have their own families. We are enjoying a great season of life now… a richness of conversation, time and activity together that is incredibly significant. I heard a quote years ago from former president George H.W. Bush. In an interview with his wife, he was asked what was his most…

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APATHY – Issues of Fear, Relationships

If the opposite of up is down, and the opposite of right is left, then the opposite of love is hate, right? Not so fast. The opposite of love is NOT hate. Why? Because with the word Love, people have feelings and think about another person. And with hate, it is same with different intentions. So the opposite…

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WISE PARENTS – Issue of Parenting, Relationships

There is a name that brings an image to mind. It’s the image of sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, a quick trip to the bathroom, an internal conversation that goes something like, “Why would someone do that?” or “you must be out of your mind.” The name is Nik Wallenda. He was born into…

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