Hard Places

It’s almost time. Spring is just around the corner for half of the hemisphere. Birds are beginning to migrate, trees are about to begin budding, and flowers are soon to bloom. Once they do, all we see is the beauty: gorgeous colors and textures against dark earth. But...

Life Beyond To-Do Lists

It’s early morning as I write these words, far too early for most of humanity on this side of the hemisphere to be up and stumbling about their kitchen, searching for coffee. To-do lists are swirling in my brain, and my fingers are itching to set ideas to paper,...

Go Forward in Faith

Have you heard about the story of the walls falling down at the ancient city of Jericho in the sixth chapter of the biblical book of Joshua? God gave Joshua specific instructions about how to overtake the city of Jericho. He was given unusual directions, especially...

The Ivan Face

One day a few weeks ago I was doing some cleaning around the house and took notice of a to-do project I had been putting off for a while. The door on the bedroom of my two sons had been slammed so many times that the doorjamb was almost completely off the frame, and...

Are You a Leader?

I have a problem. If I’m in a group and there is a lack of leadership, I will jump in to lead even if no one appointed me the leader — even if it’s not appropriate. It’s an illness, really. I can’t help myself. It feels similar to when I was in a classroom as a...

Red Rover! Red Rover!

In elementary school, I remember playing Red Rover on the playground. Two lines of kids would link hands and face each other. One child with a strong personality would decide who to call over from the opposite chain and they’d chant, “Red rover, red rover, send Tracy...