Browsing Category

Family

Belize, Family, PathLight,

PathLight Christmas Letter

A year ago I sent a letter to friends of PathLight, and it was so well received that I’m posting it here as my Christmas wish to you. I hope you enjoy it.
——

David L. Fleming writes, “The son of God became poor by becoming incarnate. He embraced poverty in the circumstances of his earthly life. God was born in a stable manger and was given the name Jesus. His parents fled with him as refugees to escape a murderous tyrant. Later he lived a simple workman’s life in Nazareth. He became an itinerant preacher and teacher, without wife …

Read more

Family,

Happy Birthday to Me! Well, sorta …

I freely admit that I am proud of my kids.  Last Friday Jedd got home from Thailand where he lived for 7-weeks.  During his time there he worked on a film for The SOLD Project, which works to prevent child prostitution.  It’s a dynamic organization that my daughter Rachel leads as Executive Director.  She and her husband Kevin live in Thailand and are doing some great things.

So yeah, I’m proud of my kids. But what does that have to do with my birthday? Glad you asked …

It’s my birthday on December 8th. That’s the same night as …

Read more

D'Oliva Olive Oil, Family, Random Thoughts,

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I thought I’d share something that I recently read … it struck me as unnervingly appropriate given the season that D’Aun and I have had. Truthfully, I’m not even sure I fully understand it and wish I knew more about it’s origin.  But it’s still striking in it’s own way, and may it find a way to bless your time of giving thanks.  If not, then consider it my blessing … Happy Thanksgiving!

The Gathering of Joy and Pain

To the singing of the harvest-song goes the life of a year, or of all the …

Read more

Family, Wine Reviews,

A High School Sweetheart, a Foreign Exchange Student, and Bordeaux

How did I get into wine?

In some ways, though not the drinking kind, it all began in High School. That’s when I hooked up with a gorgeous cheerleader and Student Body President. Yes, brains and beauty go together. Or at least they do with D’Aun. High School has various social stratums, and I was way over my head. She was voted Best Personality. I was not. She was high energy, always had a smile on her face, kind to everybody she met, and admired by all. Again, I was not. So it shocked everybody when we started dating. Especially …

Read more

Book Reviews, Family,

GO GIANTS!!!

I’m reposting a story about my lifelong love for the Giants. It’s painful to be so far from home in the midst of all the fun! So I’m reposting this as my only way to shout, “Go Giants!”

———
It was a beautiful summer Sunday. My father had promised that we would go to Candlestick and watch the Giants play, my first memory of seeing a live professional game. It was probably 1965, and I was perhaps 6-years old, so my memory of details could easily be mistaken. But I think they were playing the Dodgers that day. Or at …

Read more

D'Oliva Olive Oil, Family, Sabbatical, Westmont,

Ciao from Italy!

Ciao from Italy! Wish I could post photos but WordPress seems to hate iPads. But trust me, we are seeing great stuff!

D’Aun and I spent the first few days in Rome overcoming jet lag and touring the city. Our tour guide, Angelo, was great and created special events that we’ll remember a long time. For instance, the first day we headed out of town to an olive mill that his brother-in-law owned … and along the way we stopped at the bridge just outside of the old city of Rome where Emperor Constantine had his vision of the cross …

Read more

Family,

A Night Prayer

For my friends who are grieving, a Caim prayer from the book Celtic Daily Prayer:

This night and every night
seems infinite with questions,
and sleep as elusive
as answers.

Pain and longing are always present,
dulled only a little
by the distractions of day.
I am weary; I am weary.
I am confused.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep despair and disillusion without.
Bring a glimmer within.

Circle me, Lord;
keep nightmare without.
Bring moments of rest within.

Circle me, Lord;
keep bitterness without.
Bring an occasional sense
of Your presence within. …

Read more