Have you ever been hiking in the forest and come across a pond? If you have, you probably immediately noticed whether it was a pond that had an inlet with fresh water flowing or whether it was stagnant. If it was stagnant, you were probably more likely to see mosquitoes and other bugs. I doubt…
Details“When we stood there getting married, I remember the preacher saying, ‘For better, for worse; in sickness, and in health.” I was 20 years old and I thought, I wonder what ‘in sickness and in health means. I thought, he’ll have a stroke in 40 years; I can do that.” – Darnly Motter Many of…
Details
I recently read a quote by author Matthew Kelly in which he said, “The Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa talk about ‘the Two Hungers.’ There is the Great Hunger and the Little Hunger. The Little Hunger yearns for food while the Great Hunger, the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for…
DetailsFor some, flying is a relatively pleasant experience. For others it is stressful and may even require anti-anxiety medicine. Regardless of which category you find yourself in, the trip can either be positively or negatively impacted before you ever leave the ground, when you encounter the ticket agent. You may have encountered, as I have,…
Details
For most people, happiness seems to be a reaction – a reaction to an event or a set of circumstances. For example, many people have been certain that if they just won the lottery, they would have all that they need and they would be happy. Yet, many stories of lottery winners offer a very…
Details“People are different.” You’re probably so impressed by the profoundness of those words – let’s try another. “Men and women are even more different.” Now you may be thinking I’m a genius (or not). So, how about this – “You and your spouse are really different from one another.” When most people get married they…
Details
That question may seem a bit strange. You may be thinking “I would understand if you asked “What is the meaning of Christmas?” But the purpose? Well, I’m asking about the purpose of Christmas. Was it established to support the fir tree industry? Or maybe its purpose is to give us a reason to decorate…
DetailsHave you ever thought of your life as a book? Sometimes people frame their lives as a narrative or a story. Perhaps they see themselves as the hero of the tale or maybe as the victim. But let’s imagine that when our lives are said and done, they represent a complete book. Think about it…
DetailsI would like for you to meet a couple this morning – Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina. Up until Herbert died a couple of years ago, they held the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage at 86 years. Herbert died at 105 while his wife was 103. While 86 years is an…
DetailsAs I sat reading the newspaper this past week, my attention was caught by what seemed like a glaring contradiction of values, on the same page. One article was concerning the gut wrenching devastation that was taking place in the Philippines following the destructive typhoon. At that time, there were nearly 2000 dead with a…
Details