Annie’s Duffle Bag
“Excuse me…could I get a drink of water?” She must have asked the question at least three times but I didn’t hear her over the spray of the garden hose.…
On Picasso And Priorities
Immediately after graduating from college in 1985 I lived with four of my friends on Central Ave in Orange City, IA. Occupying a corner lot, the gray two-story affectionately known…
Mercy, Grace And A Second Chance
Mercy means we are spared the punishment we deserve. Grace means we receive blessings we don’t deserve. Sometimes these truths are illustrated in a single terrifying moment. It was 4…
TV Talk Show Theology
Hello! And welcome to our show. We’re glad you tuned in. Today’s topic promises to be a hot one! We’re talking with parents who claim, “My Teenage Gothic Vampire Wild…
Of Control Freaks And Helicopter Rides
During the first week of 1996 I was in Iowa visiting my family. One afternoon I sat looking out the window at the snow while blue jays and squirrels feasted…
Needs Or Wants?
One wonders how they came up with the idea. Did excessive time spent preparing coleslaw cause them to miss their child’s school program? Was it because the inventor’s Dad never…
Infomercial Resolutions
January 28th. Twenty eight days into the first page of the calendar. Typically, this is the week our New Year’s resolutions say hello to reality. A few years ago I…
The Language Of Listening
It was late afternoon when I walked in. Two people in the entry area turned their heads and watched me find my way to the counter. A guy in a…
Without A Word
Last February I took my Dad to a Phoenix Suns game. We had a great time even though the Chicago Bulls weren’t the toughest opponent. When you go to a…
Living Or Existing?
Go north on Hayden and you’ll see the sign on your right, just past McKellips. Announcing your entrance into the city limits of Scottsdale, it reads, Scottsdale – Welcome –…