I love a good story, and rabbis (teachers of Judaism) often have some of the best because they usually have a little twist in telling the truth, like the one about the nine men and a goat. In his book How to be Decadent, journalist George Mikes has this version: a man comes to a wise rabbi …
It was Sunday afternoon, October 27, 1974. Lori and I found a parking spot at the Sonic Drive-In in Altus, Oklahoma, and ordered two drinks. We were nervous teenagers on our first date. We listened to the music over the drive-in’s intercom as I sipped my Dr. Pepper and Lori her ice water (always with …
“The true Christian does not hunger and thirst for his own political party to get into power.” I was reading those words the day after the presidential election. They are from the pen of Charles Spurgeon, the prince among 19th-century English preachers. I immediately thought about how often I had delved into the news about …
The desire to strike off into the wilderness while feeling the tug to stay close to home can be conflicting. We want the thrill of the venture with the guarantee of a safe path back to the campsite. The way back is not always clear, we remind ourselves. So, we stay stuck in our mode, …
October 24, 2024, marked six years since Dr. and Mrs. Whitlock’s son Harrison died. Though the Whitlocks still grieve, they do not grieve “as those who have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13). After Harrison died, he lingered long enough to brew a pot of coffee. Earlier that day, he visited us from Paducah, KY, where …