There are experts at reading signs: economic signs; cultural signs; pandemic signs. They study, immersing themselves in learning to recognize and interpret. They gather data and make predictions. They warn of gathering storm clouds or they calm fears with informed predictions of a rebounding economy. Sometimes these sign readers are fear mongers. Sometimes they are… Read More ›

I like the football team the Pittsburgh Steelers. I cheer them on with seasonal loyalty. I often wear a baseball cap sporting their logo in all seasons. Occasionally, someone will say to me, “I hate the Steelers.” I even had a couple people say that Steeler fans are not welcome, you know, wherever I happen… Read More ›

Imagine working at a company where the boss has traveled to another country to conduct business. He was unsure of the duration of this particular trip, so there is no designated coming back date. The person he left in charge seemed reliable enough. You know, when the boss was around and keeping track. But this… Read More ›

Are you, like the Boy Scouts, prepared? And can you be prepared for every eventuality? It doesn’t seem likely does it? Sometimes, the best thing you can do to be prepared is to be willing to roll with life’s twists and turns. There are these sneaky dangers out there. And no one waltzes through life… Read More ›

How do you define happiness? Is there some kind of scale, like the Richter Scale, that can give a measurement? Switzerland is 7.1 on the Jolly Scale. And if that measurement is a pathetic 2.3, is there some way to ramp up happiness? Maybe there is a happy mad scientist out there somewhere boiling joy… Read More ›

I saw a commercial the other day that made the statement that science is the only thing that is reliable. I beg to differ. Please let me differ. Not surprisingly, this commercial was produced by a pharmaceutical company in the midst of a pandemic. Trust in science to get you through. Or, more likely, trust… Read More ›

I like the Serenity Prayer. It begins with “Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” And that covers a lot of things doesn’t it? We spend a lot of energy and effort and anxiety hitting our heads against a very hard wall that cannot be moved. Anyone have a headache… Read More ›

Here in North Dakota there is a pretty high rate of suicide among senior citizens. Here is what I’ve been told. They retire without a plan of what to do next. They sit alone on their farm or in their house and feel as if they are no longer useful. They thought that retirement was… Read More ›

There are different levels of denial. Sometimes it surges up in the heat of self-preservation, but never touches the heart. Sometimes it is a sickening stain oozing out from a decrepit and rotten soul. Sometimes it is something that can be repented of and forgiven. Sometimes it is an incurable disease. Wait a minute! Everything… Read More ›

Happy Easter! The Corona Virus cannot change the fact of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It may change some things, like worshiping, but never the truth of the message of Christ. We take the Lord’s Supper; we gather around the table; to remember the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We… Read More ›