At five forty-five this evening my son and I headed over to the church building to witness a baptism. When we walked into the church building we could easily spot the young lady who was going to be baptized because of the giant smile on her face. She was so excited! After briefly talking with [...]

I played golf with a good friend last Friday.  We met at Roman Nose Golf Course in Watonga, Oklahoma and played 18 holes.  This course is a ravine course, driving across deep ravines.  I can sum up my round well pretty quickly: I lost many golf balls off the tees in the ravines on the [...]

“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses .”  1 Timothy 6:12 There is a picture I have seen in various places that has been stamped on my brain with permanent ink, a picture usually found on a wall in [...]

After worship on Sunday, my wife and I decided our family would dine for lunch at our family’s favorite local Mexican food restaurant. Upon entering the authentically decorated restaurant, we were greeted by the owner as everyone always is when entering, with a warm, “Hello my friends!” Honestly, his warm welcome alone may be the [...]

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.” John 11:1 Jesus seemed to spend a lot of time in the village of Bethany. Jesus traveled through Bethany when he made his “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. Bethany is also the place where Jesus was eating [...]

Once upon a time, I married a girl who didn’t like dogs.  She couldn’t stand the smell of dogs. She hated the shedding issues of dogs. She didn’t like the messes dogs made. She said she would never let a dog in the house, ever, “and that’s final!” I tried and tried to change her [...]

“He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation  rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”  Luke 6:48 Years ago I went with a group of college students to St. Louis to help flood victims [...]

Sometimes I question why I do certain things.  Like today, in a crowded auditorium I tried to give my seat to an older lady who was standing in the back.  The seats were filled and I just couldn’t stand the flashing mental image of my own grandmother standing in the back of the room for [...]

Playing in my backyard was playing in the forest. My brothers and I spent much of our childhood building tree forts high up (well, high up to us anyway) in the pine trees, or digging underground tunnels and overlaying them with pine needles and pine cones. The job of cutting bike trails through the woods required “trimming back” numerous blackberry bushes and raking thousands upon thousands of fallen leaves. And may the Lord help me to never forget the various swinging apparatuses we constructed…

Yesterday, there was a collision between my coaching soccer and being a parent.

It all started many games ago when our team had a penalty opportunity in a close game, and my chosen shooter missed the goal completely when he shot the ball. After that early season game loss the conversation with my devastated son went like this:

“Dad, will you please let me shoot the penalty shot next time we get a chance?”

“Ok buddy,” I said, “I will.”

“Promise me Dad!”

There was a king who ruled an average kingdom. His kingdom was not flourishing and growing like some other kingdoms around; nor was his kingdom seeing decay like even some other kingdoms. The king was content to see his kingdom stay the same.

When he was a young king, early each morning before doing anything else, he would slowly sip a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. One morning when he was reading the newspaper, two headlines stuck out to him more than any of the other headlines. The first headline was encouraging; it made him feel very confident and assured about a decision he had made for his kingdom during the previous week. However, the second headline was discouraging; it made him feel like he was a bad person, guilty for doing something he shouldn’t have done. So, the king…

I was on the 7th hole at Boiling Springs Golf Course around 9am, with the morning sun behind me.  It was very nice.

Most Friday mornings when I go to the golf course, before I begin my round I visit these ladies.  Someone has a sense of humor.       Here’s my scorecard:   Boiling Springs Golf Course, Woodward, Oklahoma Par for front: 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 3 = 35 My score…… 4 4 7 3 [...]

When people look at my Bible for the first time they usually make a comment about me needing to purchase a new one.  I don’t know it might be the fully blue duck taped cover that gives them their insight.  Or maybe it’s the wavy and worn page edges that encourage their quick judgment.  Normally, [...]