Three days before her biggest moment on the ice, her mother died unexpectedly at the age of fifty-five. As a nation held its breath, Canadian Joannie Rochette skated twice in the Olympic Women’s Figure Skating, winning a Bronze Medal in memory of her Mom. Death is never convenient. When my Grandfather died, I was in…
She fell on the ski slope. When the results were known, Petra Majdic of Slovenia had five broken ribs and suffered a collapsed lung. Doctors discouraged her from continuing to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, but she was determined. Another qualifying race, then another, then a third place finish. She had to be assisted…
As I write this Monday Morning Memo, I am in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada assisting with the “More Than Gold” Winter Olympic ministry. During the Opening Ceremonies I was struck by many things, but maybe most profoundly by Canadian poet Shane Koyczan’s poem “We Are More” – a tribute to the Canadian people. I…
I enjoyed the Super Bowl but I’m glad it’s over and congratulations to the New Orleans Saints. A recent survey showed 66% of men would miss the birth of their first born child in order to watch the Super Bowl. A lot of faithful Christians missed a worship service last night for the same purpose….
Many who preach, teach, and write on the subject of spiritual warfare do so from the perspective that we are warriors fighting Satan and striving to win a battle. I believe the Bible teaches that we are primarily ambassadors, who in the activity of representing our King in another kingdom, get caught in the crossfire…
Images of those suffering in Haiti continue to flood our television screens. They cry because they are in pain and feel they have been forgotten/forsaken. Pain is bad enough when provision is nearby, but incredibly difficult to bear when no help is in sight. I am so proud of our family physician, Dr. Brian Byrd,…
“I’m standing on the Rock!” So said University of Texas Quarterback Colt McCoy following the championship football game last Thursday night. The answer was in response to a reporter who, for lack of any appropriate question to ask a young man who had just missed the biggest game of his life with an early game…
I celebrated another birthday last week. I never liked birthdays. When I was young, my birthday was always the occasion for someone else to have fun. On the first birthday I remember, my aunt stood me in front of the TV where some dumb looking clown called out my name, including middle name, in the…
In “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, surviving partner of Scrooge & Marley, grudgingly gave Bob Cratchit his Christmas check and went home on Christmas Eve. He dreamed of Cratchit and three spirits – first, the spirit of the past, reminding him of his youth before he became miserly. Then he dreamed of…
I was named for two Baptist Pastors and the Chief of Police. My great, great Grandmother had five names. My daughter was named for a favorite aunt and me. My son was named for his two grandfathers. An international friend changed his name to Fred because when his foreign name was translated into English, his…