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Beside Myself Twice – A Story About Making Decisions
Often we wrestle not with our choices, but ourselves. The following is a story about that, dreams, and God’s Will. A young actor named Irwin sat on the side of his bed. He had wrestled all week with what to do. If he chose wrong, it could cost him everything. If he chose right, he could still lose it all. He had barely slept all week, and didn’t expect it to be any better tonight. He would have been surprised how easily he drifted off, had he been awake to realize it. He was gone before he knew it. His mind drifted from dream to dream, with a hazy connection…
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The Office Of Friendship
I stood this week reading of two old soldiers, who having been separated by conflict, reconciled their friendship. The Colonel and Big Chief, as they we’re each nicknamed, had both once occupied the White House. It was the office that caused a rift in their friendship. Taft reached out when his friend had surgery, and Theodore Roosevelt reached back. Like Adam’s and Jefferson they corresponded again, and shared moments together. The two came to realize, as my Pastor has always said, the relationship is more important than the argument. If you study the Presidency, you will find more than one story of reunited friends for example Truman and Eisenhower. There…
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An Example And A Dream
Before the famous words “I have a dream” we’re spoken, Dr King’s Father dreamed. I was privileged to read his Father’s biography many years ago. I was blessed to read of a man who began with very little, and didn’t only succeed, he helped others to do so. As a son then I could understand the inspiration of a great father. As a dad now I am reminded of the important responsibility of being an inspiration. We do what is right because it is pleasing to God, and because it is right. We also should be mindful that what we do is a roadmap for our children. Whether it’s an…
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What A Beautiful Sound
I’m listening to a happy little boy as he imagines some adventure filled with heroes. There was a yesterday when we dreamed of these moments, hoping that one day this quiet house would be filled with the sounds of our now. A couple of things happened today to remind us of how miraculous the lives we live are. Through no merit of our own we are blessed to be the parents of a precious, healthy, handsome, smart, little boy. We’re far from perfect, but we never want to take these things for granted. We are not only parents, we are Nicholas’ parents. God didn’t just give us a child, He…
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Big Three
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New Year’s Eve, Thinking, And An Oil Change
Today is New Year’s Eve, we talk a lot about the ending of it, and the beginning of tomorrow, but how are you starting today? I started it by waking up, or rather my alarm waking me up and going to the car dealership for an oil change. As I write this, I’m waiting for them to open in about an hour. It’s not how I would want to start the day, but the sooner you get here, the sooner you get to leave. I’m the first in line this time. That’s the real reason I’m here, so that I can get back to my family as soon as possible.…
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Sketch Ho Ho Hoot
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The Other Benedict Arnold
On this day in 1615, the other Benedict Arnold was born. This was not the infamous one from the American Revolution, but his Great Grandfather. He was was president, and then governor, of the Rhode Island colony serving for a total of 11 years. Among his other descendants were two naval heroes and brothers, Commodores Oliver and Matthew Perry. Senator Stephen Douglas, who lost the Presidency to Abraham Lincoln, was also among his family. What struck me most was, the phrase President Benedict Arnold was a reality. Finding this historical fact shows once again, not only is anything possible, at Christmas you still discover the unexpected. It also encourages me.…
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Playing Hands Or Praying Hands – A Christmas Story Of Redemption
Grandma always watched westerns at Christmas. For years I didn’t know why, though around ten years old, I started to notice they always made her cry. The funny thing was the tears always came with a smile. The first year I had noticed, I asked Dad about it on the way home after Christmas. He smiled, and replied that it was a story told as only Grandma could. “I’ll give her a call, she’ll tell you next Christmas.” I waited a whole year, it passed in and out of my memory several times. Finally it was Christmas Eve, and I was about to bust. Grandma mentioned at dinner she had…
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Did You Write It Down?
Another Nanowrimo is coming to an end, that’s the national novel writing month, were you a part of it this year? I typically spend the month blogging about writing, I didn’t this year, partially because I was writing. However I wanted to take a moment and speak to those who desire to write. Are you interested in writing? Perhaps you’ve lost the passion to write your story, or are just facing obstacles completing it? If you are struggling with writing I have a few suggestions for you. The first and most important is that you are not alone. Many of us fought for years to complete our first book, it…
