Merry Christmas, everyone! Many of you have probably already busted down the stairs (if you have them) and dove headfirst into the pile of presents and stocking stuffers. As I’m sure many of you received gifts you needed and wanted, there is also real joy in watching the faces of those you give to. Sometimes the best part of Christmas morning isn’t what we open — it’s who we’re watching. This Christmas, after everything was opened, I mentioned that only one thing came off he

Another Christmas Day has come and gone. I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season. But I wonder—was it everything you planned for? Maybe you didn’t get the gift you really wanted. Maybe a family member couldn’t make it after all. Perhaps the cookies didn’t turn out quite right, or a cherished tradition was dismissed by the rest of the family. For us, this was the second year in a row our extended family was sick . This year hurt a little more because my wi

In the final week before Christmas , people are out and about looking for that perfect gift for their loved ones. For some people, the final days before Christmas are the beginning of their shopping journey. For others, it is only for that “last minute” stocking stuffer or gift or maybe even a Christmas Eve service outfit. My wife and I were out and about in our local mall recently. While she was in a store, I stood outside watching the people. There were parents alone, grand

Lately, I have realized that I enjoy words. I enjoy a good pun, a good riddle, and even just playing around with different words to decipher meanings and connections. Many of my students in youth ministry (and now in substitute teaching as well) roll their eyes and take a deep breath when I get going. SIDEBAR : One of my favorites is “when was the first time medicine was mentioned in the Bible?” You’ll have to read all the way to the end to find out. This week our local middl

We are just a few weeks away from Christmas , and I know for many of you, things might be a tad different this year. And I am not talking...

Have you ever spotted something on a top shelf in a store that you wanted, or needed, but could not reach? If you're anything like me,...

Here we are, just 4 days away from Christmas Day. Christmas music is playing everywhere. Decorations are hung in windows and on houses....

Last week at my church, we held our Christmas program. We decided to do something a bit different this year. We had a dinner...

As I am writing this, it is snowing outside! Normally, I am not a huge fan of snow, but for some reason it does not bother me this time....

Before you react with either immense excitement or utter disdain, this article has nothing to do with snow queens, ice salesmen, or snowmen who like warm hugs…well, it does have to do with a snowman that was created, but not by the magic of a top hat. This time of year gets many of us really excited. One of my favorite Christmas shows is the classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. However, its sequel “It’s Christmastime again, Charlie Brown!” is probably not as well known. In th

This past weekend, my wife and I were in North Carolina visiting my family for Christmas. This visit was a little different because it was the first time I have traveled to another state with our two golden retrievers. We stayed at a hotel and were on the second floor. This may sound insignificant, but with a one year old puppy, it is VERY significant. Our puppy, Mowgli, is a tough guy. He is a smaller retriever, but he is built solid and has no concept of pain. He has two sp