Message or Melody?

I was eight years old when I sang my first and last solo at church, singing “In the Garden,” my favorite old hymn. In junior high and high school, I played clarinet and bassoon, but I never developed a great love for music.Perhaps my first day in the marching band had something to do with […]

Soaking Rain

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, last May was the rainiest month on record. This happened according to prediction only because meteorologists were allowed to update their forecasts every few hours. To improve the perception of accuracy, they hedged their bets with percentages. I want you to know that I was soaked, wishing I had an […]

The “Off” Days

In just a few frames, a comic strip delivers interesting stories. To stir my creativity, I read my collection of strips every morning. My favorites are Calvin and Hobbes, Blondie, and Pickles. A few years ago, I read a Blondie strip that has stuck in my memory because it posed an interesting question. Young Elmo […]

Winning the Battle

A friend said we were in battle, both spiritually and physically, and we needed to fight harder. Paraphrasing Jesus’ words, he said, “The kingdom of heaven must be taken by force.” Is he right? Jesus told Pilate, “If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight.” After telling his disciples they needed […]