Intentional Friendships

Loneliness is an epidemic in our country. I can honestly tell you that everyone is lonely. But it always amazes me that in our loneliness, our default is to simply stay alone. It takes a lot of courage to initiate friendship because the risk of rejection is so high and so painful. When we were…

Saying Yes

Yesterday my 13-year-old daughter asked me if she could paint their fort. Their fort is the space under our deck. Earlier this year they cleared the cobwebs and dirt and decided this space was the perfect place for a summer hide out. They bought plastic liner and green indoor/outdoor carpet with their own money. They…

Are you okay with that?

“If I said that I hated God, I seriously doubt you would be okay with that.” A young friend said this to me in one of our intellectual discussions about life. This statement demanded further curious questions. Questions like: So do you really hate God? You said “if” so is this really how you feel…

The Homes of Anna Mae Boehm – Eulogy

Perhaps what I admired the most about my grandmother was the way that she graciously and humbly stepped away from this home when it was time. Some people who don’t grow up with much hold on to everything they get as they go through life. The scarce times make them hold more tightly to the abundant times. But Grandma seemed to be able to let it all go.

The Practice of Letting Go

It’s a fault we have as parents. We hold on too tightly. We don’t want to let go. We enjoy the control we have in the early years. The ability to be immediately and unquestioningly obeyed. But you have to start practicing letting go early on.
So here’s the question: Did God the Father have to practice letting go?

Be Strong

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10) Being strong is a common idea in our culture. It is celebrated in our culture. Everyone wants to be strong because those who are strong have power. We tell boys to be strong; we tell our girls to be strong. We…