During the last month, I read Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor, a wonderful biography by Brad Gooch,. In the book, Gooch tells the story of O’Connor’s friendship with Betty Hester. For nine years, they corresponded by letter. In these letters they discussed matters of theology, philosophy, and the content of the various books they… Continue reading You Don’t Have to Be Your History
Category: Grace
What is a Gracious Person Like?
Gracious. Now I like this word. Like you, however, I have been around some people for whom the word “gracious” doesn’t seem to fit. It was a busy evening. This particular church was attempting to feed a lot of people. Volunteers had been working in the kitchen in their church building throughout the day to… Continue reading What is a Gracious Person Like?
Grateful People Are Refreshing
Now this was refreshing! The other day I was in Wal-Mart. I had my three or four items and found a checkout counter with no line. The checker was a Hispanic woman in her late 30s. I asked her about her day; “I’ve had a fantastic day!” she replied. Then I asked her, “What happened… Continue reading Grateful People Are Refreshing
The Looking
(The following is my second attempt at poetry. Thanks to L.L. Barkat for her encouragement regarding this attempt. See her very good blog here and her new book, God in the Yard, here.) The Looking In the mirror one day, I saw a self. Body. Mind. Emotion. I took a closer look and peered into… Continue reading The Looking
The One Quality that Makes Some People so Likable
I really like to be around certain people. While I am with and around a lot of people, there are some people I particularly enjoy being with. Now let me quickly say that as a Christ-follower, I am called to love and serve all kinds of people. I am not called to love the people… Continue reading The One Quality that Makes Some People so Likable
The Lost Boy of Sudan in Highland Park
I encourage you to read the story below from today’s Dallas News. This is the story of one of the former “Lost Boys of Sudan” who came to America and ended up living in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation. UNIVERSITY PARK – If it is possible to experience God’s grace in the… Continue reading The Lost Boy of Sudan in Highland Park
The Apology
I used to drive a UPS (United Parcel Service) truck. Really. This was the job I had when I one day received an apology. I had been working for UPS during college. I was a student at the University of North Texas I worked at the Dallas location in the evenings, loading and unloading trucks.… Continue reading The Apology
I’ll Take Mercy Over Fairness
I grew up in what seemed to be a very ordinary neighborhood. We didn’t have a lot of money. In fact most of us were just getting by. Down the street lived my friend. I thought that his dad just had to be wealthy. After all, he often wore chocolate brown and white wing tips… Continue reading I’ll Take Mercy Over Fairness
Taking a Retreat From Humility?
Some people seem to have taken a retreat from humility. When they are around others they don’t appear humble but they behave as “know-it-all’s.” 1. The man in a small church who had a master’s degree. Most everyone else never went to college. This was a farming community filled with many hard-working people This one… Continue reading Taking a Retreat From Humility?
Take What You Need (The Edge on Generosity)
Tom Long tells the story of one of his students who went home to Baltimore and was driving around in his car with his father. As they drove, they talked about the plight of the inner city. Finally, after some time they thought they should call home and tell the rest they were on the… Continue reading Take What You Need (The Edge on Generosity)