My 14-year-old, very perceptive son, Elijah, remarked after my mother, his grandmother, passed just a few months ago. “ Dad, how can you be so strong?” His question came from his observation of my attitude and actions during the illness leading up to and death of my mother. While everyone was weeping over the loss of Mother, my mind was focused solely on getting My Dad and family comforted and ...
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Two weeks ago today we were waking up to hear the tragic news about Las Vegas. It took our breath away, broke our hearts and if you're like me, caused you to question, "why?" Why did one person feel so much hate toward innocent people, many of them splurging on a trip and concert to celebrate big life events, anniversaries, Birthdays, etc.? What happened Sunday October 1st sent a lot of us ...
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If you’re a parent, and especially a parent of multiple children, you know what an exhausting, thankless job it can be. It seems like someone’s always upset, complaining, or just plain whining about something. And it almost seems like the kids get together and coordinate their timing so you don’t get much of a rest period. But hopefully, at least one day a year when Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day ...
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After battling stage four breast cancer for a year, my 80 year old mother passed away. I know death is a part of life but it still feels a little surreal. For as long as I can remember, she would send an email and it would be waiting in my inbox every morning. I would always respond briefly and then go about my work day. When we found out about a year ...
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”What do you want to be known for?" My Pastor Andy Stanley asked that from the Catalyst Stage, and provoked thought inside both myself and an arena filled with others. Leaders young and not so young were all taking the time to invest in themselves, and their team, to gain clarity and multiply their impact. This message resonates with me daily, and as I prepare to attend my seventh Catalyst Conference at ...
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“No raging storm can ever defy one word of faith My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves You are the anchor for my soul You won't let go” With all of the literal storms around us these days, those words about Jesus’ character remind us of His faithfulness. That’s from one of my favorite Michael W. Smith songs and while I have played so many great songs by Michael throughout ...
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If you’re a parent, chances are you child has or had one or two particular movies or videos they loved watching over and over and over again. Sometimes (if you’re lucky), they grow out wanting to watch that particular video and move on to something else. But sometimes not…as is my case with my daughters who are 21 and 18. They love the “Princess Diaries” movies and NEVER grow tired ...
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Weren't you just heartbroken over the events last week in Charlottesville? I turned on the TV to see the kind of hate that took my breath away. It made me scratch your head and wonder, "where does that come from?" Many mothers and fathers were shocked to see their own children behaving like that, declaring, "we didn't raise our child to be that way!" I believe hate often comes from fear. When ...
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There is a scripture in the book of Nahum that is both scary and comforting at the same time. Chapter one, verse eight says, “His way is in the fierce winds and storms….” Winds and storms have a different meaning to me today than they did when I was a child. I loved being in the middle of a summer storm when I was young! Getting soaked and being shaken by gargantuan ...
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With the kids getting settled back in school what are you hoping they learn this year? Hi, this is Parks Stamper, middays on the Fish. Maybe its Algebra 1. Ugh. I found that a bit challenging… It was so frustrating for me – a good student in everything else but math. I went to a place of incorrect overthinking…”well, I’m just not good at math my brain is not wired for ...
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