I Believe...

Zephaniah 3:17 is my favorite Bible verse: The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. I have always read this with a picture of a father considering his child. Maybe it's because I have a natural tendency to view the parent/child relationship God has with us. But, I think it is also reinforced in this passage by the prophet's earlier use of the phrases 'Daughter Zion' and 'Daughter Jerusalem'. There a so many things in this verse that bring comfort to me, for example "God is in your midst". We have times of despair and loneliness that are unescapable...it is the tragic reality of an imperfect world. And often during these times I have heard, and I have said, "God is with you". But I think the idea that "God is in my midst" is more powerful than "God is with me". It paints for me a picture of Him not ...

While on my walk, listening to my playlist, two songs came on back to back that reminded me of my beautiful wife. 77s “This Is The Way Love Is” and Cat Steven’s “Hard Headed Women”. When I gave up, you held up When I ran out, you filled me up When I kept runnin', you kept up When I let you down, you lifted me up When I couldn't find the words, you understood When I didn't find the time, you were in no hurry When I wouldn't make ends meet, you tied them together When I cheated, you kept to the rules This is the way love is I'm looking for a hard headed woman One who'll take me for myself And if I find my hard headed woman I won't need nobody else. I'm looking for a hard headed woman One who'll make me do my best And if I find my hard headed woman I know the rest of my life will be blessed When I hear these lyrics I am reminded at once of her immense patience and forgiveness and at the same time her unwavering commitment to what is right. It seems we h...

I did not know it would be this hard. The days leading up I knew if would be different and difficult, but not this hard. This is my first Father’s Day without dad and it was more than I expected. I’m reminded of when we said our last goodbyes at the Hospice House. Mom, Pat, and Lynn stepped out of the room, but I could not leave. I hugged him and a well of tears came out. I just remember saying I’m not ready for you to leave! Tonight those same tears came back and I just wish he was here. Even in his absence I continue to try and learn from him. Today I could not help but think back on what it must of been like for him that first Father’s Day he had after Grandpa passed. I wish I could go back and give an extra big hug that day. I know that day was a transition for him. No longer being able to spend Father’s Day with his dad, but focusing on celebrating with his kids. Today was my first day of that transition. And the girl’s knowingly or unknowingly helped to make that transition with ...

A few years ago my grandmother passed away. She was survived by her five children and a devoted husband. Hobart was, and still is, deeply in love with Wanda. His affection was obvious to anyone who spent even the smallest amount of time with them. Recently Hobart was reminiscing and mentioned how he missed his "bride". I was touched and deeply moved by the simple comment. Even after all these years she was still his "bride". I think every man would do well to follow Hobart's example and forever remember their wife as their "bride". To never forget the feeling we had the first time we saw them in their dress walking towards us. To always remember how wonderful it was to just hold her hand as you looked in her eyes and said "I do". And to cherish the perfection of that first kiss. The other day my "bride" shared with me a song she said reminded her of Hobart and Wanda and I could not agree more... Looking back he sees it all It was h...

Yeah, June is more than a couple of months behind us, but everyday with my girls is Father's Day. This Saturday will begin what I can only assume will be a very long career as a soccer coach for my children. I am reminded of the days that I was coached by my Dad. Even these many years later I can recall jumping in our van, just the two of us heading out to practice, or the whole family driving down old country roads to hidden fields that would appear like magic from behind the trees. Now it's my turn. This Saturday I will get up early to pack the car, much as my did. I will wake my daughter many hours before she would normally wake, just as my dad waked me. And together we will drive to the field. Side-by-side we will stroll to the field, coffee in one hand, and a bag of soccer balls in the other. The two of us will have the entire place to ourselves as we wait for the rest of the team arrive...she will be anxious for her friends to hurry and arrive, and I will wish it would st...

I am a puzzle freak. I love puzzles, crosswords, logic problems, etc. In addition to being a puzzle freak, I am determined to accomplish things on my own. Puzzle books with answers in the back do not tempt me to cheat and look in the back. Not because I view it as cheating, but because I am determined to do it on my own. I will accept the occasional hint, but never tell me the answer...I much prefer that feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish it on my own, no matter how long it takes me. This charactor trait has been a strength as well as a weakness. Once in high school our youth group had a scavenger hunt event. The location of the items for our scavenger hunt were given to us in cryptic riddles. This was just for me! Many of us breezed through the riddles until we got to the last one...no one could figure it out. It seems the creators of the riddle were a little to cryptic and abstract. After the event we all gathered together for fun, food, and fellowship. The leaders, knowin...