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Captain Obvious – Devotion #5

Pops has just convinced the boys that it’s okay to start their stories in different places. Now the budding book writers have spread scraps of parchment on the table and are talking excitedly about what they should include.

“Common stories, so like … John the Baptist?” asks Mark hopefully. “I mean, I’m assuming you’d all include him. Everyone’s heard about the character who wore camel hair and ate giant bugs.”

“Yeah, that baptism was the start of Jesus’s ministry—plus fulfillment of prophecy,” agrees John. “Essential story material right there.”

“Or the time he fed thousands,” Mark continues, “or kicked out …

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The Boy With the Sad Eyes

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 people. I jump from one project to the next and focus on getting stuff done instead of on caring for others. It’s now, more than ever, when I need to remind myself that people around me are hurting.

With that in mind, here’s a story I hope you find …

Book Reviews, Uncategorized,

The Brave In-Between

Amy Low has written an astonishingly vulnerable book titled The Brave In-Between: Notes from the Last Room. Her story begins when her life has it all. She is successful, smart, married to the man of her dreams, has two wonderful kids … life is looking great.

Then, sadly, the marriage falls apart. Tough decisions have to be made. Then another blow when, in her late-40’s, she’s diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

This is not my typical read. Amy is rightfully in anguish throughout much of the book, and I was sometimes ready to put the book down. The …

Devotions, Uncategorized,

The Gospel of Mark

In past years the Easter devotions were based on the Gospel of Luke. This year they are based on the Gospel of Mark. It’s a good source for short, simple devotions because the author wrote in a very direct manner.

The brevity of the writing lends itself to what I do well. Namely, make stuff up to fill in the blank spots! I will read a story in Mark and immediately have questions. The book leaves the reader begging for more detail.

Here’s an example. One passage that won’t be in the devotions is Mark 2:18-22. There are several …

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Keep Your Mouth Shut

A year ago the board of PathLight International asked me to step in as interim CEO. It’s been a fun year and we accomplished a lot, but it’s time to let someone with new energy lead. That’s why, and you heard it here first, PathLight is going to announce the hiring of Kris Canfield as the new Executive Director. I could not be happier — mostly because Kris is going to be great, but also because it’s time for new leadership.

There is a lot to say about Kris of course, but I’ll resist the temptation to list her …

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Mardi Gras

Tuesday is Mardi Gras so it’s your last chance to eat donuts without spiritual guilt. Um, sorta.

Either way, it means Lent is about to start. You might remember my Lent devotions from last year. They were fun to write, but honestly it was just too much work! So this year I’m shortening the series.

We will start March 20 and continue until Easter Sunday, April 9. Which seems like ages from now, doesn’t it? But when you write on a deadline it feels eerily close!

Like my other devotions, these Easter devotions will take us on a road trip. …

Generosity, Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt, Philanthropy, Uncategorized,

Generosity Toolbox

One of my goals for Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt was to offer tangible ways to be generous. As one critic said about my first book, “It explains the why, but not the how.”

That was by design of course — explaining the “how” of generosity can quickly slip into becoming prescriptive. Suddenly it’s a “how to” book in a world awash with them. Even so, the critic had a point, and I wanted to address it with the new book.

But it wasn’t as easy as expected. Each one of us is in a different situation, and suggesting “how” to be …

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Israel & Egypt Trip

If we’re friends on Facebook, you probably saw a few pictures from our Israel & Egypt trip. Here are a few more for your amusement. It doesn’t even begin to show all the places we saw and things we did. But I don’t want to be one of those people who make their friends look at every travel picture!

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