Jimmy Carter Christianity

February 20, 2023.Reading time 24 minutes.

Whether or not you are a Christian, if you’re looking for the kind of human I believe best exemplifies my Christian faith, look no further than Jimmy Carter. If you are increasingly convinced there is no such this as a “good and decent” form of Christianity, I would simply invite you to consider Jimmy Carter’s […]

Beauty From “Shithole” Countries

January 13, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Two works of art from “shithole” countries, both displayed prominently in their usual place, above the couch in our living room. At bottom right, next to the light switch, a small painting I bought on my trip to El Salvador. On the left, a larger painting that the people of Petit-Guave Haiti gifted me with, […]

Remembering Ken Foree

August 18, 2016.Reading time 15 minutes.

Ken Foree has died. Dr. Ken Foree lived a long and beautiful life, and died at his home this week, at age 91. As I have said many times over the years, Ken Foree was one of the kindest, most compassion, and most generous human beings I have ever known. He has a quiet, slow […]

Carptenter’s for Christ- 100 Houses

February 23, 2016.Reading time 23 minutes.

At the midpoint of life, you start to take stock of your accomplishments and see where they rank. One of the most important accomplishments of my ministry —if not the most important— was being a part of the “100 House Challenge” at Highland Park UMC in Dallas. This Saturday, HPUMC’s “Carpenter’s for Christ” will dedicate […]

The Heart of a Servant

March 7, 2015.Reading time 15 minutes.

I’ve just returned from DFW Airport, where I went to see off our Guatemala mission team. They are headed for a week of mission with the good folks of ODIM Guatemala, which Northaven helped found and still supports in numerous ways. But, while I was waiting for our team to make their way through baggage […]

White Rock Ride With My New Go Pro

November 12, 2014.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Last Friday, I made a second attempt at a long write with my new Go Pro camera. Here’s the route on a map. It came out pretty well, and I made a film of it: Great thanks to the folks at Northaven Church for their generous gift of this camera. It was a lot of […]

Step Out

March 7, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

We leave for Guatemala in the morning. This song has been my ear worm for most of this year, from the great film “Walter Mitty.” I loved it. And I don’t care what you say. The story of a guy overcoming his fears and stepping out into the big world. I love, love, love the […]

Time for a Time Change

March 6, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

Been catching up on some journaling this am. It strikes me that this month has been like drinking out of a fire hose. Events coming at me, fast and furious… — The Judge starting her law school teaching — Mary Clair’s resignation — George and Jack’s wedding — Maria getting her license — Our niece […]

Faces of the Enemy. Faces of the Friend.

January 1, 2014.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve been troubled by the stories of the Volgograd bombings. More troubling to me are stories that additional suicide bombers may be fanning out across Russia. Reports are that Saratov is on high-alert right now. Many years ago now, I had the honor of visiting Saratov, Russia nine times over a seven-year period. These were […]

Keep Moving Forward. Don’t Look Back.

July 21, 2013.Reading time 20 minutes.

For ten years, Dennise and I have lived with the memory of one of the most terrifying journeys we ever took. It was a pre-GPS navigation world. It was a pre-digital-photography world too. But since we have both now, we recreated this journey the other day, such that we now have pictures to tell the […]