Failure

40%.  I failed.  No one told me that the minimum distance you had to maintain between your car and a bicycler was 3 feet.  No one told me that the images of two people on a yellow sign meant that I should watch for children.  And now my attempts at being a legal Minnesota driver

Overflow Visual

I’m looking at my 3rd mug of coffee.  (Typical for weeks that I’m speaking).  It’s contours, handle and color remind me of a message that one of my students delivered in our 908 Student Worship Service at Concordia University, St. Paul.  Kelsey talked about her mug and how there are times when she feels quite

Gorilla-Sized Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy.  It’s all around us.  In our government, in our work, in our schools, in our churches and in our lives.  To be a hypocrite means that you are an actor. Two faces manifesting as one. Hypocrisy is shown when we pretend to be something we’re not. I heard a story  of a man looking

Finding Resources for Overcoming Obstacles

Obstacles.  We all run into them.  However, a while ago, I came across an application from a Bible story that has helped me in my relationships, business and personal life as well.  What I discovered is that everything I need to overcome obstacles, problems, and issues, is provided for me by God.  Because He loves

Needs and Wants

I often get needs and wants confused. When I was in high school, I needed to get a new bike.  But instead of buying the typical 10-speed, ram-horn curled handled flyer, I convinced myself that I needed a unicycle!  How cool would that be to ride up to school on a one-wheeled deathtrap!  In my

Parenting at Every Level

When we begin this new adventure called parenting, many of us dive into research that rivals that of NASA.  Book, audio CD’s, Youtube video series, seminars, more books, podcasts and the deep well of blogger knowledge Even though we always wear the moniker “Parent,”  how that title plays out needs to change as our children

The Power of Fathers

So, I’ll add to the flurry of Father’s day blogs, messages and notes that are storming through the internet today by re-printing an article by John Blase. Before I do so, I have to say that I have a great dad.  He brought, and still brings, laughter, insight and northern-pointing perspective on everydayLIFE.  Even though

Coming Home – Two Years Later

I love when my children come home.  It is when they’re home that I know they’re safe.  It is when they’re home that I know they’re loved.  It is when they’re home that our family feels complete. Two years ago today, one of my children went home.  Two years ago today, my Makenzie looked up

Dancing With God

Two years ago this Friday, my oldest daughter was killed in a car accident. My new book “Dancing with God: First Year Thoughts on the Loss of My Daughter” is a compilation of my blog entries which chronicle my journey.  The book will be published in the coming weeks.  If you’d like more info, click

Death at 1,000 mph

Shuffling through the airplane seat pocket in front of me, I found a note someone scribbled from a previous flight. “Some odd thousand feet in the air.  It’s almost hard to not think about death.  I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to hit the ground at 1000 mph.” The script style was young;

Old Emotions

A while ago, I wrote about how emotions can sneak up on you; when you hear that old song from the 80’s and you remember your high school love; when you smell garlic and you remember that relaxing trip to Italy (or to your favorite Italian restaurant). Today, an emotion gripped me that I hadn’t

“Setting a Course”

Yesterday, I tweeted “”Fools travel paths that go nowhere; but the wise set a course to follow”. Obviously, I’d like to be the later rather than the former. To set a course to follow with my blog, there are 5 topics on which I’m going to write.  What 2 are of interest to you?: Peace!

For What Are You Thankful?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Maybe because it isn’t commercialized.  Maybe because it is a nicely timed break during the year.  Maybe because it involves my five favorite “f’s”:  Family, Friends, Faith, Football and FOOD! You may have another list, like this from a group of 1st graders: “I am thankful for me and my