Roadblock of the Mind

On the way home from work tonight, I waited my turn at the light just two blocks away from home. When I was clear, I turned left onto the boulevard, and drove about 30 feet, gradually catching up to the truck ahead of me. The driver of this truck waved to the car at their … Read more

The best laid schemes of mice and men

My plans at work for a Friday team training fell apart and were canceled on me. As I reflected on it, I found myself thinking of a line “The best laid schemes of mice and men” and couldn’t come up with the rest, or if it was applicable. I decided to use my extended memory, … Read more

A Rooster Wearing a Tuxedo

I saw a clever portrayal being shared on social media of a supposed hypocrisy of following “biblical principles.” This one was specifically targeting Chick-fil-A restaurants, which lends both financial and edible support to groups who promote “traditional” marriage and family, but also serves pork products with their breakfast meals. It was cute, but also showed … Read more

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping. Don’t mention grocery shopping. I seem to have a special talent surrounding it. If I go with a mental list of two items, I will forget one and buy the wrong thing for the other. Writing it down, and my chances of getting it right improve only slightly. Today I took the girls … Read more

Wiped Out

It was a rare time when I found myself alone to change my son’s diaper. Confident in my ability to do this job solo, I laid out the changing pad underneath him, and unsnapped his outfit. As I expected, he began to cry and kick and express how much he dislikes having his diapers changed. … Read more

His Image in Your Countenance

In a line of questioning promoting self-examination, Alma once asked the question, “Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received His image in your countenances?” (Alma 5:14, punctuation modernized). The question of spiritual birth echoes a midnight exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. Said Jesus to the Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, “Verily, … Read more

The Brazen Serpent

People are predictable. They’ve been acting the same way since the beginning, focused on their own problems and overlooking their many blessings. The Israelites began another leg of their endless journey. This time, they left mount Hor, and following the Red Sea, and circled around the land of Edom. The collective attitude of the people … Read more

Dear Pastor,

Recently, I recommended Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotionals. I still enjoy them, but in a recent devotional Paster Klaus said something that I needed to offer correction on. Here is my reply to him. Dear Pastor Ken Klaus, I’m a little bit behind in listening to the devotionals, and today I finally heard the Daily … Read more

Thanks Be to God

Expert from “Thanks Be to God” by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Recently, Sister Nelson and I enjoyed the beauty of tropical fish in a small private aquarium. Fish with vivid colors and of a variety of shapes and sizes darted back and forth. I asked the attendant nearby, “Who … Read more

Mothers Day is like shopping at Target…

Yesterday evening, my family was at the department store Target when we came upon our Bishop and some of his family, also shopping. Knowing I was going to be speaking at church today, with a smile that indicated he was joking, he challenged me to work the experience into my talk. “Mother’s Day is like … Read more