This past Tuesday I had the challenge and privilege of preaching and leading the funeral service for a dear friend, the wife of the previous senior pastor at the congregation I now serve. Lorna was a wonderfully faithful woman who lived for the Lord Jesus in all that she did. She truly exhibited a “Thumbs Up” attitude in all of life. Sadly, her faith and love could not stop the assault of sin on her body. A terrible blood disease and...

This week I started teaching another online class for the Masters of Family Life Education program of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor. So far I am highly impressed by the character and faith of my nine students. It’s great to hear their stories of real life and how God is using them to pass on His awesome love to others. It’s reaffirming to hear that the instruction found in my book, Handing Out Life, is relevant to the...

Heather and I just returned from a wonderful weekend “Marriage in God’s Way” seminar we led for couples from St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen, IN. It was great to retreat in the charming town of Shipshewana. We enjoyed time away from the normal routine with our most precious gift on earth…our spouse. Most of all, we delighted in learning to put our “Thumb Up” to Jesus as our most important relationship....

I saw headlines like this when I searched “September 23” today… Conspiracy theorists and doom-mongers predict the world is ending Stars are set to align on September 23 which could fulfill a Biblical prophecy The outlandish theory will see ‘worthy’ Christians lifted by Jesus into heaven The Revelation 12 Sign theory says Leo and Virgo will unite to bring the ‘Rapture’  Are the stars going to align in...

My firstborn child, Hannah, is now a college student. It was a tearful day two weeks ago when we left her on campus. It’s not easy to let go after 18 years of having face-to-face contact with her almost every day. However, my wife, Heather, and I are secure in the knowledge that Hannah is safe “in the Hand.” What does THAT mean? She is secure in the Hand of her gracious Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. The one who claimed...

This past Tuesday I had the privilege to speak to a good number of the 900 teachers and support staff from the Grand Blanc public schools about leadership. I was at one of twenty-four stations along a “scavenger hunt” around town to learn about positive character traits. The overall event was part of a national campaign called the “Positivity Project.” I was thrilled by how receptive everyone was to my message about...