My brother-in-law surprised our family for Christmas and built us a backyard deck. I don't know who was more excited - my wife or Meg, our mini-golden doodle puppy. To celebrate his work, we spent an enjoyable night on the deck around the firepit. Like most puppies, Meg wanted to join in on the festivities and be part of the party…

My oldest daughter attended her first homecoming dance last year. When she came down the stairs in her dress, I had to do a double-take. Where did my little girl go? It seems like only yesterday she attempted to take her first steps. I remember that day…

One of the most common misconceptions when we start a relationship with Jesus is that life will be easier. But inevitably, we face adversity or encounter weaknesses. Then, an important decision must be made: do we keep going or get out? Unfortunately, some people walk away from their relationship with Jesus due to their unmet expectations…

You can find everything on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. These sites have brought the swap meet to the World Wide Web. From used cars and golf clubs to kitchen appliances and designer clothes, your typical fare is well represented…

Having two young daughters and no family in town makes carving out a consistent date night with my wife tricky. Sometimes it feels like I serve as my daughters' Uber driver who whisks them to and from social events, after-school programs, youth groups, and sports practice. Jenn (my wife) is also a nurse who works the night shift, which only adds to the scheduling chaos…

There is a desire in all of us to make a difference in this broken world we call home. This world's issues seem to multiply daily, making those of us who want to make a difference feel overwhelmed…

Anytime there is a special occasion like celebrating a birthday, an impressive report card, or some other moment, Madison, my oldest daughter, requests that we go to the Olive Garden…

I was a 3-year-old when I experienced the big change that occurs from Christmas Eve to Christmas morning. As I went to bed, I took one last look at our mostly empty living room. Lying in bed, my heart raced, and my mind wandered. My overflowing excitement made it almost impossible to sleep. Then, somehow the next morning…

For a good “rags-to-riches” story, it is not necessary to delve into Horatio Alger novels or watch Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. Look no further than the story of the Virgin Mary…

During this holiday season, many families will gather together and read the Christmas story. Sadly, we've grown so familiar with this piece of Scripture that the oddity included within its contents often gets lost. Think about it for a moment. Angels suddenly start appearing. There is a speechless priest named Zechariah who can't utter a word until his elderly wife Elizabeth gives birth to a baby…

How do we remain in God’s love? How do we keep our priorities in order when it feels like we are always at capacity? School demands our attention; work demands our attention; our kids require our attention, our spouse, our friends, and the list goes on and on. We cannot remain in His love without intentionally making space to stay still…

It was a rare frustrating day at the office for me a couple of weeks ago. It seemed as though my phone and email were overflowing with the complaints and frustration of co-workers about some situations going on around work. Since I work in Human Resources, even if it is not our fault, we tend to get the spotlight. I rarely look at my days as, “I survived,” but that day earned the title…

A few years back I had the crazy idea to put on my running shoes again and take part in the Wrightsville Beach Half-Marathon. Having a few races under my belt, I figured it would be a piece of cake, even with a little bit of time off…

Each day we have an opportunity to walk through things from a place of trust and stability OR a place of grasping for control. Some days may feel more predictable than others, but the reality is, we aren't guaranteed anything. If you are anything like me, you like control, and you want to know how things will work out…

When we were kids, we bristled at going to bed at a certain time or having to eat all of our vegetables. As we grew older, other rules got introduced: Speed limits, paying taxes, and so many others. Eventually, we all reach a place where there are just too many rules to keep track of, making it difficult, if not impossible, to find joy in obedience…

No matter how good things seem to go in our life, we are bound to face struggles and hardships. Bound to face things we don’t feel we can handle. It could be the loss of a loved one, heartbreak, or even something unfair at work. The truth is, God never promises us smooth sailing, God promises to be there with us. He is always working even when we don’t see it…

A pandemic, wildfires, and political unrest are a few reminders of why we won’t soon forget the year 2020. Clearly, we are all exposed to some sort of circumstance today, whether public or personal. Responses to them will vary…

A few years back my parents retired and moved out of my childhood home.  During the downsizing process, I got a call from my mom saying that she had a big problem on her hands: my sports card collection, which occupied my entire bedroom closet. From baseball to football and hockey to basketball, I collected everything…

One night, my wife and I were talking to our oldest daughter Madison at the dinner table when the topic of boys came up. She grinned and reminded both of us that she was now sixteen and that our archaic dating rule had now expired…

One of the greatest lessons I continue to learn is the difference between happiness and joy. To some, these words are synonyms and used interchangeably. But for me, these two words are worlds apart. I tend to view my happiness through the things that bring me enjoyment..