News & Updates

I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom. I watched the movie Lincoln. What a fight for freedom that great man fought. I’m studying the incredible letter of Galatians where Paul is all about freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Why are we so quick to give freedom up? Perhaps loneliness. Maybe a thirst for approval and acceptance. A quest…

I was with a young couple this morning preparing for their March wedding. They’re continuing to do the DTR thing. Define The Relationship. When you meet someone, you immediately start your DTR process. Going steady moves the DTR status right along. Becoming engaged and then setting a wedding date refines and crystallizes specific tenets of the DTR. There’s a similar mode when we come into contact with Jesus. DTR. Is he a good guy? Teacher? Mere prophet? He said He…

“Which would you choose?” It’s a fun game. Wanna play? If you were given four Super Bowl Tickets (Row 1, 50 yard line), would you choose: a. to stay home because a special episode of Empire will be aired? b. to ask for free nachos too? c. to create a lottery to choose who will go with you? d. to smile and high five the nearest Falcons fan? If you were invited into the winner’s locker room to congratulate Russell…

What wrecks you? What has slammed you to the ground only to completely reshape you when you got back up? Jeff Goins, in his book, “Wrecked” says: “To be wrecked is to have a transformation that goes beyond mere words—to be introduced to another way of life, to follow in the footsteps of a teacher who is calling you through the eye of a needle. Often it involves being catalyzed by an encounter with pain. The process is horrible and…

Words are so incredibly important. My children’s visible demeanor can rise and fall on words or the lack thereof. A person boasting a top love language of affirming words becomes a confident warrior with even the slightest encouragement. That same person can also become a pile of mush with a mere barbed comment. I know all about such dynamics. You should see the wonderful cards I keep on my desk. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a small wooden…

A funny thing happened in 1977. Tandy computer executives articulated their vision for personal computers. “We think it could be the next big thing on everyone’s wish list for the holiday season!” Then… Commodore computer execs spit out their vision. At the time, their stock was trading at less than one dollar a share. The Commodore folks said excitedly, “We think (personal computers) could help our stock rise above two dollars a share.” There was another oddity by the name…

My always eclectic and wonderfully edgy daughter, Lauren, was getting a bit weary of the many New Year’s resolution social media posts. She sarcastically and humorously scripted her own tweet. Here it is: “6am wake up, 5mile run, all my daily nutrition in one shake that taste like chocolate, and 365 goals for 2015 planned. Hello, 2015.” She thought if she would exaggerate with ridiculous fashion, some might get the point of how many January 1st resolutions are a bit……

Isn’t it funny how everything moves crazily towards Christmas for over a month, and then… suddenly… it’s over. Last night the family was watching a little TV, and the commercials … suddenly… starting touting 70% off-the-day-AFTER-Christmas sales. Michael shouted, “NO!!! It’s not over. Christmas is not over!” There was something deep inside resonating with the emotions my son emitted. I love everything about Christmas. Starting approximately around Easter, I can begin looking forward to Christmas. When it comes and quickly…

There’s a part of Christmas I thoroughly enjoy. I love watching my kids open up special surprises. I like to capture a few photos highlighting the very second something hoped for is opened. I love pictures from years gone by where my kids and wife have expressions of joy, love, and excitement. A great response to a great gift is worth the malls, online searching, and retail efforts. Do you ever buy a Christmas gift wondering what kind of response…

Nine months ago, I had no clue as to the existence of the monster that is “water hammer.” With a horrid gestation period behind me, I do now. I’m still a bit incredulous how some of my vocabulary space is being eaten up with the words “water hammer.” Do you know what it is? When your PRV valve (more new vocab for me) goes bad, the pressure in your home’s water lines goes berserk, and they bang and rattle and…