Have you ever thought about what things you were absolutely certain of? Made a catalog of the things about which you had absolutely no doubt? I think my catalog is actually pretty small. But I also think certainty is very much overrated.

I'm pretty happy with life. I'm fifty years old, in decent health. I have a job that fits me well, that I enjoy and am pretty good at. I'm making more money than I ever thought I'd make. My marriage is comfortable & satisfying. Our church is great. My daughter and get wonderful husband have … Continue reading In My Life

We used to sing a song: "Holiness, Holiness is what I long for, Holiness is what I need. Holiness, Holiness is what you want from me." God, I'm not very good at producing holiness, am I? I have a long day in front of me. Bruce and I were talking yesterday about organizational systems, and … Continue reading Workday Musings

You can change keyboards! I'm using SwiftKey, which is the smartest swipe keyboard for iOS. And it works pretty well, especially when you get used to the predictive aspects of it. In fact, I'm typing with it now. Trying to type blog posts on my iPhone has always been a huge hassle, but SwiftKey makes … Continue reading A Nice New Feature of iOS 8

Today in DCC Chapel, Abel Lopez is preaching about singleness of heart: "Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people." Rich Mullins quoted Kierkegaard re the beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart." Mullins says, "To be pure in heart is to love just one thing." ONE THING. This connects with the … Continue reading Chapel Sermon Thoughts

Lord, the week lies ahead of me.  All that I will do, I dedicate to you. There are students and professors that I can serve.  People who are upset or stressed or overwhelmed, whose hostility and frustration levels are off the charts.  Lord, use me to bring them calm and help them refocus on the opportunities … Continue reading Prayer

Since the terror attacks in New York & Washington on September 11, 2001, we have been told repeatedly that Islam is a religion of peace. We have been told that the terrorists who attacked us on that day, and those of the same ilk who have attacked US & Western interests & allies since that time, are not … Continue reading Moderate Islam? Toward a Litmus Test

I started playing chess when I was in 1st grade. For years, it was one of the things my dad & I did together. I'm a fairly intelligent person, but I've never been a good chess player. I enjoy the game, and I've tried to improve over the years--books, puzzles emailed to me, etc. But … Continue reading Chess

Caffeine & Ryan Adams aren't enough this morning. I need some clarity; I feel like I'm reading & writing through a fog. God, brush away the cobwebs.  Send your breeze, your pneuma, like a dry-line through my mind, moving out the clouds and haze and bringing in cool, dry, clear, fresh air. By your Spirit, let me … Continue reading Prayer