Some things we learn from the scriptures and some things we learn from the irreplaceable institute of the day to day grind. If you have children you know what I mean. You can pound a reality in their brain until your pounder falls apart, but some things they’ll never believe until they walk through the fire.

I’ll never forget the circumstances surrounding this picture.  Julie and I were on our 10th anniversary cruise a couple weeks ago.  I’m not a fan of beaches and sand.  When I vacation, I love to see the people and places.  Julie likes to sit on a beach and “veg out.”  Normally this works because I’ll go shoot pictures or see the town while she hangs out in the sand.
Well, a man in his right mind does not leave his lady alone on a beach in the middle of Mexican jungles.  …

I embraced the practice of transactional friendship! WIIFM – “What’s in it for me?”

In other words, I love other people simply for what they have to offer me or my organization. It’s ugly, but it’s true!

I just posted article #100 last night!
Post 100 pushed me off of the sometimes dangerous, sometimes freeing pinnacle of self-reflection.
I looked back over the previous 99 and remembered!  I remembered for myself and for my friends.  I remembered joyfully and reluctantly.  I remembered with a hope for the future.
The previous 99 offer death and life, sin and holiness, hope and hopelessness, confusion and clarity, transparency and guarded hearts, truth and deception…
It’s a little like life itself.
How can we be wrapped up in so many dichotomous stories.  Stories twisted and tangled …

Those of you who have fathered a child may understand what it feels like to hold your little one in your arms knowing that you haven’t the ability to give him the one thing that would wipe away the tears. I stood there with my boy in my arms as helpless as a fireman trying to explain to a child that he can’t retrieve her favorite pet from the burning house.

THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.

A couple days ago I was skimming Facebook pictures of an old friend with whom I had reconnected.  As my eyes scanned, I was struck by the shot that contained this thumbnail.  My heart started to race.
Why?
I immediately recognized these “A” badges as visitor passes to the West Wing of the White House!
A little background…
I’m not a fan of politics… I’m not a fan of any particular politician… I’m not obsessed with Washington…
However, I am a huge fan of the television show “West Wing”!  I have seen these “A” passes …

I decided I would go skydiving with a couple of buddies in college. We arrived on site and signed a massive document giving them free reign to ignore all safety precautions and somehow not be liable in the event that anything “bad” happened (Faith or Apathy?). They put us in a room to watch a “training video” which proceeded to encourage us to “come skydive with [their company]!” and tell us all about the type of quality instruction we would be given if we decided to go skydiving at their …

Autumn…
Fall has always been my favorite time of year.
I wonder if everyone loves their birthday month as much as I.  Do you?
October is mine.  It’s always been a month of promise for me.   A new year… an opportunity to put the last behind… hope for the next.  That’s always been the story of my October until the last couple years.
The past two Octobers have been ones of brokeness.  More in line with the natural autumn and it’s death leading into winter.
This weekend I am preparing my heart for a visit …