Courage

There’s a scene in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus sends his disciples out on a boat on a lake. Later that night, he appears to them, walking on the water amidst the winds that blew. The disciples are afraid, thinking they’ve seen a ghost. But then Jesus yells at them to take courage. Peter, […]

Growth

Traditions are great. They connect us to the past. But sometimes, there are traditions that we need to let go of. Cynicism, stagnation, dead weight all keep us from finding our purpose. They keep us from becoming better people. They hold us back and keep us fighting the same battles over and over again, coping […]

Updates and what nots

It’s fall. It’s the first fall in my new abode and I am adapting. I am watching the first of the leaves fall through my office windows today while one of the cats naps in her bed on my desk. I am waiting on my old van to be done, since I finally am getting […]

Get a “real” job

No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance, and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Once upon a time, I worked for years at a convenience store, starting there part time first and then eventually moving to full time since the job suited my needs. […]

Be Curious. Ask Questions.

It’s just a simple tag, but to some in the tiny church I attend in my little swath of the Midwest, it means a great deal. Every year around the start of the school year, the church I attend blesses the students and staff that are in school. They also bless backpacks, praying that everyone […]

The Magician will be in paperback soon!

Magical friends, I have an announcement. Remember when I finished posting my serial novel The Magician here on this blog back in June? Well, in talking to some friends of mine who had not started to read it (because admittedly, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to read fantasy as much as I would love […]

State fairs and magic

It’s no secret that I live in Iowa. Or, perhaps it is, since I often call this area “my little swath of the Midwest” on this blog and in other place. But yes, I live in a state where there are more vowels than consonants. I happen to live in the capital city of Des […]

Calming the Noise

“If we’re adding to the noise…. Turn off this song…..If we’re adding to the noise… Turn off your stereo, radio, video” ~ Switchfoot “Adding to the Noise” Our world has a great deal of distractions. We have information at our fingertips. We have food that can be zapped in a matter of minutes. We have […]

Are you sure?

Are you sure? It’s just three little words, but there is a great deal of hesitation in them.  Certainly, we want certainty, but sometimes…. We just aren’t able to know for sure.  We overthink.  We question ourselves.  We question others.  We even question God. We have identity crises. We make excuses for ourselves and our […]

Love unconditionally

It has always amazed me that the English language only has one word for love, even though there are different degrees of love, so to speak. I love my family. I love my one true love. I love chocolate. I love to write. Yet other languages have many words for love, including Greek. There is […]