A recent interaction with a church goer left me discouraged. The conversation with this person wasn’t negative or cynical. I mean no disrespect to the person if they read this post. But it did leave me discouraged and saddened. Not because I disagreed with the person. We had things to
Happy Belated (because I’ve been taking a break from the blog) New Year! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve sent you anything. Sorry about that. Or you’re welcome, depending on your point of view. There are big plans (editor’s note: “big plans” is definitely an exaggeration) for Junkyard Wisdom™
I read a lot of books. This year the total will probably be 75-80. Once a year I share my favorites, and no it’s not always one of my books (though you should read Junkyard Wisdom Advent….just sayin’). This list is not really the best of the year because, obviously,
Thanksgiving is this week. When asked, most people say Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. We gather to give thanks for all we have been given, feast on the bounty of our work, and celebrate with friends and family. It’s like a warmup for Christmas. But I want
A confession: I have a love-hate relationship with the church. I love what it has given me and many others: hope, peace, joy, and love. But I am saddened by how it has left so many people confused, frustrated, sad, and judged. That’s an uncomfortably stark contrast, but I don’t
A few months ago I was in Washington, D.C., with my wife and friends. We had a free morning so we visited the Museum of African American History and Culture. It’s a wonderful museum that tells the story of pain and loss alongside perseverance and progress. There were points when
This is a busy time for my family: olive harvest, moving my aging in-laws into a home, travel, and a book launch. Plus, this post goes out on election day, which tends to cause frantic anxiety in a lot of people. Being busy or distracted is when I often ignore
This is Halloween season, not Advent, so it’s a bit awkward to promote my new book of Advent devotions. But hang with me a bit … there’s a stronger connection than you might think. Advent is about preparing ourselves for the arrival of Jesus. The traditional focus is on love,