Richard Swenson provides a helpful insight and corrective in his book, Margin. The primary meaning of the word margin (it share a common origin with mark) is a border or limit. It has come to denote the area surrounding something (as the margin on a page, usually blank). We reflect this concept in the phrase, …
Category Archives: Christian living
Still Here!
Frainkly, I have had trouble getting the creative juices flowing over the past week. Yet I feel the need to check in and say something to my friends and readers. Seems that I just finished materials for the Leon, Mexico trip. Now I am feeling the presssure to finish my presentation for the Pan-American Lectureship in …
Losing the Connection
My computer has a problem. When it is inactive for even a brief period of time, it loses its DSL connection. Making sure it is connected before taking a few minutes for another project or activity doesn’t help. One of my elders was in my office between Bible class and worship last Sunday. We needed to …
Still Mad After 40 Years
My sister recently attended her high school class reunion—class of ‘68. Class reunions are interesting. My view on class reunions is this: “Everyone should attend a class reunion or two to find out that all the stuff that was a part of high school really wasn’t serious.” My sister laughed at my statement and proceeded …
My 20000 Day Checkup!
I went to the doctor last week. I jokingly told people it was my 20000 day checkup. You can figure out about how old I am! (If you’re really curious, 20000 is a rounded number–it’s really almost 22000 days.) Nothing out of the ordinary. I watched the doctor write on my chart–well man. I presume …
Moving!
[Note: perhaps you’ve noticed that my blogging has slowed a bit. Today’s thoughts will provide some explanation.] We’re moving again–about 10 days ago we purchased a house in McAlester and almost immediately succeeded in selling our home in Edmond. (God is good!) The only problem is that the buyers want to close at the end …
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like….
A modern parable: The kingdom of God is like a diamond. Jesus never said it that way, but perhaps people in the first century weren’t as aware of diamonds as we are today. Jesus instead said, “like a pearl of great price.” What lessons could we glean if we were to compare the kingdom of heaven to …
When the AC goes out….
The air conditioning went out on my car Tuesday afternoon. Since the outside temperatures were in the mid-90s, I felt fortunate that I was only about 90 miles from my destination. Because I am currently a one-car family (Jan has her car in Colorado where she is engaged in grandmothering chores for our new granddaughter) and …
Living Life with the Sirens Blaring
Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Had to give way in the last few days to a passing ambulance? I am amazed at the number of ambulances that go by my office on any given day. An ambulance tears around town with its siren blaring. It is always going to a crisis or leaving …
An Antigua Argument
I walked down the street on a quiet Saturday morning. I was in Antigua, Guatemala, a few minutes before 7:00 the streets were almost deserted. A lone runner loped down the middle of the cobblestones. Here and there a few individuals or couples were walking. No car was in sight on the street where I …