Good morning: Confusion has always swirled around Jesus’ identity and work. When the Lord asked the disciples who people were saying He was, they responded with a variety of public opinions. That hasn’t changed. Today too people have questions and doubts. If Jesus was only a prophet, what makes Him different than other prophets? If…
Good morning: “Excuse me, could you reach that box on the top shelf?” asked an elderly woman at the grocery store. I was glad to help in that small way. It’s nice to have long arms, but we all know the frustration of wanting or needing something that is beyond our grasp. Even the arms…
Good morning: Have you ever tried to warn someone of their sinful words, actions, or attitude only to have them tell you, “Don’t judge me! Jesus says, ‘Don’t judge or you will be judged.’”? Jesus did say that, but what did He mean? He was not saying that right and wrong are subjective and depend…
Good morning: Worries have a way of feeding on themselves and growing larger and more frightening the longer we think about them. All it takes is wondering, “What if….?” What if I were to get seriously sick? Would I get the care I need? What would happen to those who depend on me? What if…
Good morning: “You were driving 15 mph over the speed limit.” “Your blood pressure is too high.” “You’re failing the class.” “You owe additional taxes.” Have you heard something like that lately, news you really don’t want to hear? We might comfort ourselves by saying, “It could be worse.” But what if it couldn’t possibly…
Good morning: There has been a disturbing trend in recent years to ignore, erase, or rewrite the past. Statues and monuments, books, and even people from the past are “canceled” because they are judged to be irrelevant, unimportant, or even harmful to people of the present time. But without knowing and remembering the past, we…
Good morning, Lapham Peak in the Kettle Moraine State Forest is a picturesque setting perfect for hiking, picnicking, or for just enjoying fresh air and God’s creation. There are nearly 20 miles of trails through all kinds of terrain, but the destination for many visitors is the five-story observation tower. Even if you’re afraid of…
Good morning: Are you a coffee connoisseur? Have you compared Starbucks with Alterra and Caribou with Colectivo? You may have your favorite based on the roasts and flavor profiles you prefer; but in many ways they are all similar. On the other hand, there are some things which are so dramatically different that there really…
Good morning, Have you been watching the Olympics which are being held in Beijing, China? Along with the excitement of the competition, what I especially enjoy seeing are the back stories of the athletes. The events themselves may last only a few minutes. It takes mere seconds to hurtle down the bobsled course or soar…
Good morning: Seed and gardening catalogs have been arriving in our mailbox almost daily. It’s encouraging to look at page after colorful page of vegetables, flowers, and trees in full leaf. It’s a reminder that according to God’s order of creation, spring will come again. But what about now? Look out the window and appearances…