Dear Dad, I am writing this letter, and I hope it finds you in good health.  That probably sounds strange since we have not talked in many years or perhaps ever. Either way, I wish you only the best today which is different from the way it has been. I have tried to write this letter many times before and never succeeded. However, I do have a few things I would like to share with you, things I think you should know. When you walked away and left me behind, you left more than just a child. You left behind a part of you in me that I have had to live with my entire life, up until now. I doubt I cried tears when you left, at least not over your leaving. Perhaps when the hunger and dirty diapers that kicked in, I likely shed some tears, but they were not for you. I would have to have known you to cry for you, or so I thought. Growing up I got used to being called names like a bastard, I mean you did leave so it was somewhat accurate. Then again are you a bastard when both parents leave? Anyway, I digress, where was I? Oh yeah… As a child, it was uncomfortable never really fitting in. Fights were normal as I always felt alone and out-of-place. Anyone that called be a bas”….” or “son of a b….” , well those were fighting words.  I had parents, but they did not look like me. I had anger […]

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The last two Wednesday night’s at Bible Study, Mrs. Laurel has been talking about marriage. That is a weird topic for someone like me, who is divorced and single. I do hope to be remarried one day though, so I went and took plenty of notes. This whole topic is what jumped out at me last night. A LOT of marriages end because someone “Isn’t happy.”  Well, guess what? You weren’t created to be happy anyway!  Mrs. Laurel said, “Happiness is a by-product of what God created us to BE, not DO. When you make happiness your purpose, you don’t feel like it’s enough once you reach it.” Happiness is based on circumstances. That’s why it doesn’t last. It can go away quickly. For example, maybe you want a new rug for your home, or new shoes, or to be a certain weight, or to have your hair a certain way, or spicy Chic-Fil-A nuggets, or the latest tech gadget…. you just KNOW you’ll be happy when that happens. Right? Wrong! Once you get whatever it is you think will make you happy, you almost immediately start thinking about the next thing that will make you happy. What we should be striving for is JOY! Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is actually already inside of you if you are a Christ follower. It’s not one of the things that God gives to certain people. Gifts and fruits of the Spirit are two different things. In my Christine Caine devotional book “Living Life […]

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Fourteen years ago our country was brought to its knees by terrorist. Since then many have forgotten how to forgive. Every anniversary we see mantras about ‘we will never forget.’ Anyone that was old enough to understand then never will. Yet fourteen years later our country again is being brought to its knees. Internal discontent has formed such animosity towards each other. No longer do we need to fear al qaeda so much as we fear our own brothers and sisters. A string of unfortunate circumstances has sprung a leak of hate that is infesting our nation. As Christians we struggle to remain prayerfully hopeful. Jesus gave us a prescription for our lives that can be a bitter pill. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Did you hear that? Read it again “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Those five simple words can be difficult to comprehend. How do you love your neighbor that molest children? How can you love your neighbors that rape, kill and pillage? Those whose lives matter and yet they call for an all out war on those that serve and protect? Loving your neighbor as yourself,  means loving those that shoot up college campuses or movie theaters. Loving would be forgiving those that took down the towers. Loving means forgiving, not necessarily forgetting. The day after this fourteenth anniversary of 9/11, I will be on a plane to Haiti. Answering the call to serve the forgotten. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” He sent his […]

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