Robert Coles was a Harvard professor who wrote a number of best selling books in the 1980’s and ’90’s on the moral development of children that shocked the educational establishment. In an article appearing in Christianity Today (Feb. 6, 1987) he made a number of observations that powerfully underscored my 50 year obsession with older … More Why I Read Old Books
Poet and essayist Heather Cadenhead publishes a monthly newsletter about her life as a writer and mother of two sons, one of whom is diagnosed with non-speaking autism. In an article titled, “The Road He Took: A Lenten Reading of Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’” contrasts the Frost’s “fork in the road” with the temptation of … More The Long Game for Your Soul
I don’t know what I am grimacing about in the image frozen in the video, but, as I have said before, these videos are pretty raw. They are almost all recorded in the early morning hours, often when insomnia is keeping me awake, in one take and no script.
An African American pastor friend who I greatly love and respect from the Chicago suburbs called me a couple of days ago and asked me, an interesting question: “Who is the prophet to whom the modern culture can turn? No, that’s not it . . .” He was struggling to actually state what his real … More We Need Some Weeping Prophets
Read Psalm 63 I have a songwriters heart and no talent for a musical instrument. Despite a grade school with three years of lessons, and a college class that I almost failed, the piano eluded me and both experiences were so traumatic, I never picked up another instrument. My Dad played the piano by ear. … More Help, I’m Not a Musician and I Need Some Music
Robert Murray M’Cheyne had just returned from Israel in late 1839. He was a young man with health problems, and a warmer climate had been recommended for his recovery. He chose to go to Israel to enquire about the state of the Jewish people, using his health scare for the glory of God. In one … More He Speaks from the Dead
All of these psalm videos are recorded around 4:30 in the morning in one take. I hope you can forgive the stumbles and lack of eye contact, but I hope each will encourage you to pursue the Psalms in your daily devotions. Up to this point, I have read the NASB95 translation, but in the … More Psalm 5 and a Brief Reflection
Recently, A friend challenged me to think about putting together a seminar on “praying the Scripture.” Can I be honest? Though I have been a serious prayer (long a) for over 50 years, I always feel like a novice. Honestly, there ARE SOME THINGS that I feel like an “expert” but praying is not one … More Relearning How to Pray
Stick your finger in a bucket of water. Pull it out. Try to find the hole you left. It’s a humbling illustration of how insignificant we truly are, or at least how it appears and feels that we are in life—sometimes. Today, I went to the online memorial of a mighty-man of God. He died … More How Do We Measure Significance?
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