Do you ever wish you could have a do-over? As a teenager, I used to play golf frequently at the Tenison Golf Course in Dallas. One of the first times I played, I hit a terrible drive off the tee. Someone said, “Take a mulligan.” I learned that “mulligan” was just another word for… Continue reading We All Need a Do-Over
Tag: Grace
When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
David Seamands, a longtime Christian counselor, told of a young woman whose mom always demanded perfection. She was never good enough for mom’s praise. When she was 6 or 7 she had a piano recital. She had worked hard and practiced and practiced. On the day of the recital she performed her piece flawlessly. Her… Continue reading When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
What the Joy and Pain of Child Rearing Finally Taught Me
If you want some insight into the heart of God, have a child. There is nothing like receiving the sweet love of a child, no matter the age. Yet, the reverse is also true. There is sometimes no pain like what you can receive at the hand of a child. For several years, when I… Continue reading What the Joy and Pain of Child Rearing Finally Taught Me
Being Judgmental Doesn’t Have to Take So Long
It was October 1995. I had been in Bethesda, Maryland, at a seminar for almost a week. Finally, it was time to go home. Late that afternoon, I flew out of Baltimore and changed planes in Chicago. After landing in Chicago, I boarded a connecting flight to Austin. As I sat in my seat waiting… Continue reading Being Judgmental Doesn’t Have to Take So Long
You Don’t Have to Be Your History
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
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