I did not have a good relationship with my earthly father when I was growing up, but I am happy to say it has greatly improved over time. God has given me the strength to forgive my dad for loving me poorly as a child. About ten years ago, I took him out to lunch … More Hearing his Story-Forgiving my Dad
Job said, “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy” (Job 9:25). By runner, Job doesn’t mean a marathon runner, methodically running twenty-six miles. Rather, think about Olympic sprinters, who finish a hundred-meter race in fewer than ten seconds. In the New Testament, James warns those who make … More Sprinters and Tea Kettles
The brevity of life is a major theme in the Bible. In Psalm 39, David asks the Lord to show him his life’s end and then uses three metaphors to illustrate a simple theme: Life is brief. David describes life as a mere handbreadth, a quick breath, a fleeting phantom. Compared to an eternal God … More Wilting Flowers
Wake-up calls are all around. Just look at the news, or even at events unfolding around you. On August 19, 2009, a tornado hit the small town of Williamsville, Illinois, near my home, leveling a Casey’s convenience store and an antique store where a friend of mine worked—though fortunately she wasn’t there at the time. … More A Tornado and A Deer
One morning several years ago, I received a shocking wake-up call. I was in a hurry to get to work when my preschool-aged daughter, Sammy, lying on the couch in the family room, caught me just before I reached the door and yelled, “Daddy! Would you find Barney for me on the TV?” My first … More An Overturned Semi-Truck
May 27, 2008, was a very sad day for me. On that day, Bob Szoke let people know that his son Steve’s earthly journey was over: Steve had gone on to be with the Lord. Steve lost a hard-fought battle with colon cancer, dying just a few days short of his thirty-third birthday and leaving … More You are Terminal
Reminders of the brevity of life are all around, sometimes even coming in the mail. I was shocked to realize how much I was aging when I received a membership application from AARP the summer when I turned 50. As I stood at the mailbox wondering why I would be receiving mail from AARP, it … More The Obituary Game
Today is a very special day because this is the first blog post I have ever written and posted. I am committing myself to writing and posting every week by Monday morning. The post will be ready for you to read first thing each Monday, before you head out to work or school. I hope … More Truth on a Tombstone
