What are you doing this week? This is a strange week in our cultural calendar. For many folks, today means back-to-work. For others it’s returning or exchanging, taking a break, or wrapping up family visits. Lots of emails generate automatic “out-of-the-office” messages during this week. I have two main tasks for this last week of […]
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Aftermath
Happy Monday-after! An obvious choice for today’s word-of-the-week… Aftermath Do you feel a letdown after big events? We’re in a small farmhouse with grandparents, kids, grandkids, great-grandkids. Toys are broken, parts missing, movies already watched. Cultural Christmas is over. Now what? This week shouldn’t be just about driving home or preparing for the next party. […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Night Before Christmas
Watch this with some children (or children-at-heart) if you can. A beloved story read by a wonderful storyteller. (If you can’t see the video, click here.) I wish you a time of joy and peace. Merry Christmas!
Continue readingMore TagWanting Less For Christmas
Today I’m thinking about wanting less. That’s a bit odd, given that we’re heading over the river and through the woods to my in-laws’ house filled with gift-crazed kids from four generations. We’re preparing for the annual unwrapping frenzy loosely inspired by ancient offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I love opening my surprises as […]
Continue readingMore TagSemi-Regular Newsletter 12.21.2010
Here’s a link to the Merry Christmas edition of Rich’s Semi-Regular Newsletter. Wishing you all the best in this joyous season.
Continue readingMore TagDo I HAVE to Forgive?
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Lewis Smedes Don’t you hate it when faith conflicts with feelings? If you’re any sort of sports fan you know about Michael Vick. He’s a pro football player who was convicted and sent to prison for financing and participating in […]
Continue readingMore TagMerry Christmas
Happy Monday-before-Christmas! Today I’m breaking with tradition. Instead of a word, I’m proposing a phrase-of-the-week … Merry Christmas! My odd sense of humor always finds a chuckle in the debate between the “Merry Christmas” crowd and the “Happy Holidays” advocates. I’m a solid “Merry Christmas” guy. I refuse to back off. No “Season’s Greetings” from […]
Continue readingMore TagChristmas Gone Wild
Are you all prepared for the big day? One week to go. If this doesn’t get you charged up and ready, I’m not sure anything will. (If you can’t see the video, click here.)
Continue readingMore TagThe Real Hero?
Who’s your hero? I recently heard a surprising, thought-provoking response to that question. A critique group gathered to practice their public speaking skills. They challenged each other to do a two-minute impromptu talk answering the question, “Who is your hero?” The last speaker began with an attention-grabbing opening line: I am my hero. Sounds a […]
Continue readingMore TagNext Year Is Nearly Here
What does God have in mind for 2011? I haven’t a clue, but I thought that question might get your attention. I doubt that God makes resolutions. I’m quite confident that whatever He’s planning will occur exactly as He wishes. I’m a bit less certain about my own plans. I’ve never been inclined toward “New Year’s […]
Continue readingMore TagGod’s Plan For My Life
Have you thought about wrapping up 2010? How about plans for 2011? It’s that odd time of year when we spend equal time looking to the past and the future. It’s sort of like doing taxes—you summarize the past year while figuring out what needs to change going forward. One of my internal principles tells […]
Continue readingMore TagWonder
Happy Monday! Two weeks until Christmas—I hope you’re experiencing the peace and joy of the season. We had a Christmas party this weekend that inspired the word-of-the-week… Wonder A friend brought his eighteen-month-old daughter to the party. I watched as she checked every Santa and squealed with joy. She touched each reindeer, looked carefully at […]
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