What is that thing that just bugs you? We all have at least one. If we’re honest, most of us have a few things that can drive us crazy. One of mine? People talking on speakerphone in public. Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant when a grandmother , mother, and little girl came in for breakfast. It was a sweet scene, three generations sharing a meal. Everything was calm and enjoyable… until the grandmother had to leave for work. A few minutes later, the little girl, no olde

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

As we head into the Advent Season , I wanted to share another “I Was Just Thinking…” Throwback - one of my dad's original posts that I'm resharing because it still resonates. He taught me to notice God in everyday moments, and I'm honored to carry on his tradition This piece comes from October 22, 2013 . While it originally appeared without a title, I have given it the title "Warning: Don't Miss the Moments Jesus Is Sending You Into the World". The message is clear: a simple

Nane and Me (Armenia, July 30, 2025) A few weeks ago, I returned from my third mission trip to Armenia , and it was nothing short of amazing! I’ve really grown to love this place and its people. Last year, I met a little girl named Nane. Some of you may have heard me talk about her before. This year, I hadn’t even been there a few hours before I reunited with her! When she came up the stairs of the church, we immediately recognized each other and ran into a big embrace . Even

As a regular at our local Mexican restaurant , I’ve witnessed plenty of amusing moments. But on a recent visit, one particular scene caught my attention. A little girl, no older than five, burst from the back dining area and hurried toward the bathroom. Judging by her pace, you’d think it was an emergency—but I wasn’t convinced. Her mother followed shortly after to check on her. As she knocked on the door, the entire restaurant overheard the child’s enthusiastic response : “I

While watching one of my favorite television shows recently, I came across an episode where one of the characters learned ( no pun intended ) that he was dyslexic. In the build-up to that revelation, he was studying for an exam in mythology and he knew the content. However, when he received his test back his grade was not stellar. He had not failed but the grade did not reflect his grasp of the material. This led to a candid conversation between the son and his parents about

While working the satellite office for early voting a couple of weeks ago, one of my team members discovered an old-fashioned pencil...

(Out Loud With Words) Have you ever played the game “Would You Rather...?” The game is very simple. Someone makes a statement with two...

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! While many people look at this holiday weekend as family barbecues, the beginning of summer, great shopping deals, and the like, we must remember what it really represents: the commemoration of all those who have died defending our freedom in this country. Since these men and women are not here to thank directly, I would like to say “Thank you, and I appreciate your sacrifice” to them by thanking and recognizing their families who survive them. **

“ I deserve it! ” We have all uttered this phrase. We may all have different “its”, but we all say it. Sometimes we even flip it around...

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It is too good to be true”? I'm sure many of you have, and recently, I was reminded of this simple but...

Recently, I have found myself thinking a lot about all the different causes there are to get involved with these days. There are probably millions of causes out there. Causes to help with medical research. Causes that help poor people. Causes that speak to affinities . Causes that advance political and ideological positions. And these causes ask us for our time, our money, and our devotion. They ask us to volunteer our time to knock on doors, talk to our friends, make phone c

While listening to our Senior Pastor’s sermon this past Sunday at church, he said something that I could not help noting. The word...

This past Sunday, I had a really busy and crazy day. I was coming home from out of town and I was a bit behind schedule. I thought I had a plenty of time but I didn’t. I had to be back for Youth Group at 5:30pm. I literally pulled in the church parking lot at 5:28pm. My adult leaders and several youth were out in the parking lot entertaining themselves. I ran inside, turned on all the lights and unlocked the doors. Once everyone was inside I had to run back home because our t