Good morning: Are you clean? That probably depends on whom you ask. When questioned if he is clean, an eight-year-old may confidently tell his mom, “Yep, I’m clean!” But when she says, “Hold out your hands,” and sees how grimy and sticky they are, she will send him back to the bathroom to wash. “Boy-clean”…
Good morning, Can you buy happiness? Yes, at least according to one Nobel prize winning economist. He reports that as one’s income increases, so does the level of “life satisfaction,” up to an income of $75,000 per year. It doesn’t take much thought, however, to recognize that money is a very flimsy, superficial basis for…
Good morning: After several dreary, gloomy days, I haven’t heard anyone say, “This is great! This is my favorite time of year!” When the sun doesn’t shine and the day never gets any brighter than a dim twilight, it’s hard to feel very energetic or excited about anything. We yawn our way through the hours….
Good morning, In recent years several members of our Messiah family have been called into active military service. Unquestionably it is important, essential work in the defense of our country and its interests around the world. When the call comes, everything else becomes secondary. There are deadlines to meet, training to fulfill, and finally deployment…
Good morning, Of all the times to get a flat tire…I was driving on I-94 toward Madison on a cold, blustery Sunday afternoon when I suddenly heard and felt the thump, thump, thump. I pulled over and found what I had expected, a tire had gone completely flat. Lying under the van wrestling with the…
Good morning, The surprise phone call comes late one afternoon. Friends are in town and would like to drop by for dinner. You tell them that yes, they should come. You’d love to see them. But as soon as you end the call, panic sets in. They’ll arrive in an hour and you have no…
Good morning: You know how it goes. The conversation continues as you gradually make your way to the door. You know the good-bye is coming, but you put it off as long as you can. You walk out the door together toward the car. Eventually, though, sometime after Christmas dinner aunts and uncles leave. You…
Good morning: Have you experienced a Christmas miracle? Many people look for something out of the ordinary, something miraculous to set apart Christmas from every other time of the year. Movies portray people sacrificing for others, angels intervening in everyday life, and expressions of generosity and good will coming from unexpected sources. Expectations build for…
Good morning: Did you know that you can trick your brain into happiness? You can, at least according to a recent study, which says that the mere act of smiling can “lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life.” I’m not sure if it actually works, but even…
Good morning: Are you feeling the pressure? Are you still trying to find the perfect gift for your spouse, child, co-worker, or friend? Maybe last year’s gift didn’t go over very well. Maybe the recipient thanked you and said it was the best gift ever. Now the question is how can you match or better…