Bluegrass and Jesus I attended my first bluegrass concert last week . . . and it was not what I expected. The music was not a surprise. I’ve heard and enjoyed bluegrass before, including well-known songs such as “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” and “The Devil Went...
Odor or Aroma? My backyard finally smells good again. For the past two months, an odd odor has emanated from three trees and lingered all around the outside of my house. Others across south Florida have described the smell as a musky combination of sweet...
Beyond the Calling There’s a lot of talk in Christian circles about being “called,” and rightly so. The Bible tells us: We’re called to a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9) Many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14) God works all things together for God for...
Do You Know a Late Bloomer? The amaryllis flower was a Christmas gift more than a year ago. Thankful that I live in Florida, I planted the bulbs outside after the blossoms died. Then I waited for one year, eager to see a repeat of the beautiful blooms the...
Living in Florida, I recently engaged in a stressful dance with Hurricane Dorian. For those who haven’t been following the vagaries of tropical weather, Dorian crossed the Atlantic as a tropical storm that grew into a Category 5 hurricane. With a peak wind speed of...
By now you may have heard about Christian celebrities who have either renounced their faith or are in the process of losing their faith. The most recent celebrity to do so is Marty Sampson, a lyricist long associated with Hillsong and whose songs many of us have sung...
Image by Manie Van der Hoven from Pixabay Anniversaries are usually celebrated. They often mark days we want to remember. Days of joy that make us thankful. Birthdays. Wedding anniversaries. Adoption days. But we mark some anniversaries reluctantly. Wishing the day...
Twenty years ago, I moved from New York City to a much smaller city in Florida. More of a small town, actually. I welcomed the fresh air, the slower pace, and the improved quality of life. But I also needed to make some adjustments… About a week after our move, after...
Is being spiritual the same as being religious? And are either of those the same as being a Christian? A recent Barna Group study, revealed that despite a growing indifference among millennials, they have an openness to different forms of faith-sharing. The Barna...
It happens all too frequently. I sing praises to God on Sunday morning and wake early on Monday morning beset by worry. The cause might be my growing to-do list. Or circumstances outside my control. It could be due to loss and grief. Actually, the reason is less...
Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee Have you ever looked up to a pastor or teacher, wishing you could be as...
Imposter Syndrome Have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome occurs when people see you...
Identity: Who Are You? Identity is a hot topic these days. Who are you? More and more people answer this...