Today I took a walk through Boston. The Boston Common is a beautiful and peaceful oasis to walk and pray. On my way back to the hotel I noticed a man on a motorized scooter. He was severely physically challenged. It appeared he was dealing with advanced Cerebral Palsy. The man was unable to communicate beyond noises and grunts. I have learned a lot about dealing with physically challenged people from my wife’s years of serving special needs kids. She has taught me to just treat them like anyone else. No need to look with pity or speak louder. The man was selling water and soft drinks from his scooter. He had a little cooler and a money box with a slot. There was a sign that listed the prices. Another sign noted a box to make change because he was unable to execute even that simple task. So I went up to the man, smiled at him, told him I wanted a
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The last two articles have given me spiritual tired head. So today is a gently read post from the past. (WARNING TO THE HUMOR IMPAIRED –  The following article may offend some. If you are easily irritated or have a tendency to e-mail nasty comments to blog writers please do not continue. Thank you). Recently God has been sending me a consistent message. Get out of your comfort bunker. Quit flailing away in your own strength and trust Me. I happened to stumble onto a parody of a beloved poem called “Footprints in the Sand”. The original poem was written in the 1930’s. It told a beautiful story of how God carries you through the hard times. If you somehow missed the original version you can click here to read it (be warned that there are annoying surf sound effects at the site). But a guy named Sam Glen did a little rewrite of the beloved poem reminding all of us that just leaving a “mark” is not good enough.
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Jerry Seinfeld has a bit about trying to select an appropriate greeting card. They have the greeting cards with the couples on the front. They photograph them. These hazy focus people. They’re always having picnics. There’s always a tree, a pond… who are these people? I don’t know them. I don’t want them on my card either. What am I going to write inside there anyway? “Here’s another couple having a better relationship than us.” Who are these people? That question has been going through my mind as I read the angry comments about the airplane incident with the Osteens. I have been deeply disappointed by the comments posted on my site. I know that most of them come from angry spiritual hall monitors that happened to stumble on this site. Clearly many of them think that Christians should never question another person in the faith no matter what they do. Clearly many of them think any mention of a uncomfortable situation, no matter how civil in tone,
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(This is an update of an earlier post) Yes…the spelling in the title is correct. I am going to reluctantly revisit the airplane incident with Joel and Victoria Osteen that happened in December, 2005. One of the most visited posts I have ever written was in regards to the tepid apology that Mrs.Osteen issued after the incident. I finally removed the article after it became merely a feedback repository for partisan shots. The comments became a back and forth series between those who support the Osteen’s and their ministry versus those who do not. It became a spectacular exercise in missing the point. The ministry of Joel and Victoria Osteen was never the focus of my article. I became so frustrated and dismayed with the discourse that I removed the post. This article is an attempt to stay on point. My argument was never about the Osteen’s ministry, mega-churches, celebrity Christians or any of the issues raised by many of those who posted feedback. My focus was
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I got a very kind and challenging response to the recent article about Living the Abundant Marriage. This is the note that arrived on my guestbook page. I loved your article “Living the Abundant Marriage”. -and I cried because as a couple we could relate to this so much. My husband read it and he liked it but his response was: How? Communication in this area seems blocked for us though we have tried hard to communicate, it appears. What would the answer be… First of all I have to tell you I related to the husband’s monosyllabic response. How? That’s a typical guy response. Let’s cut to the chase here blog boy. Nice words but how does that work? My second response was one of bemused amazement. Me giving marital advice feels a little bit like a mule explaining to a thoroughbred how to win the Kentucky Derby. So I have to be honest and tell you I have
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Youngest son Brett suggested that I read The Last Lecture. The book came from the notoriety gained when Professor Randy Pausch literally delivered his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon because he knew he was soon going to die. The lecture became one of the most viewed items on the internet. I finished the book on July 25th and then found this item in the next day’s news. Randy Pausch, a prominent computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University who became an instant sensation far beyond the classroom last year when he delivered his inspiring “Last Lecture,” knowing he had only months to live, died July 25 at his home in Chesapeake, Va. He was 47. That was a little weird. The book and the lecture on YouTube is inspirational and thought provoking. Pausch’s response to a terrible disease was remarkable. Here is just one little tidbit from the book and lecture. “We can’t change the cards we’re dealt, just how we play the hand. If
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July 31st is Mutt’s Day. I am a big fan of the phony baloney holiday. For example, your humble rambler has done the work of researching a special holiday for every day of the first week of August. August 1st –  Your choice. Homemade Pie Day or Respect for Parent’s Day. August 2nd – National Ice Cream Sandwich Day August 3rd – I know I should choose International Forgiveness Day but it is far easier to go with National Waffle Day. August 4th – National Mustard Day August 5th – I rejected Work Like a Dog Day because I am currently looking at my dog Hannah laying on her back with every leg going in a different direction. If the holiday was live like my dog lives I would celebrate that instead. So I offer National Failures Day as a way to help you feel better about yourself. August 6th – Big day. You can choose Friendship Day. If you want to put a real damper on Friendship Day you
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