According to the United States Coast Guard, Minnesota has the highest number of recreational boats per capita of any state in the country. By a lot. There are 143.6 boats in Minnesota for every 1000 residents. (Which leads me to one important question: Where’s my boat?) That’s roughly 35% more than the next highest state, South Carolina, with 108 … More Know Your Name
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised.” Matthew 28:5-6 My very favorite TV show is “West Wing.” I love the story lines, I love the fast-paced writing and I love the characters. … More What’s Next?
It was late at night and our caravan of cars was driving back to the camp where we worked in northwest Wisconsin. I was probably 20 or 21 years old. We’d been to Duluth for our “end of the summer” camp-staff banquet. My good friend, Brent was driving, I was riding shotgun, and 3 other camp counselors were … More Created to Tell Stories
In our Old Testament reading for today, Joshua, the son of Nun, the successor of Moses, the weary warrior, stands before the people of Shechem with a Word from the Lord. He clears his throat, cups his hands, and says in a voice loud enough for all to hear, “Thus says the Lord, the God of … More Fill the Lamps
Admiral James Stockdale was the highest-ranking American POW held during the Viet Nam War. He was a prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton from 1965 to 1973 and during his imprisonment, was tortured over twenty different times. In an interview, Admiral Stockdale was asked, “Admiral, how did you make it? How did you survive so long in such … More 100%
There are lies that the world tells us. There are untruths that we hear over and over, and over again…and, we begin to believe. These false narratives disrupt our lives, harm our relationships, and do damage to our souls. But for each of these lies, there is a corresponding truth. It is a word that counters the lie…it … More Who Do You Think You Are?
When my dad decided it was time for me to learn how ride a bike, he didn’t think I needed to go through the “training wheel” stage. My Dad had a theory: he understood balance, and he knew that to master balance, you need to have momentum. It’s harder to balance when you’re peddling very slowly, right? So his … More When the Training Wheels Come Off
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller We live in an “us/them” culture. Human beings have found ways to divide ourselves since the dawn of recorded history. We divide ourselves geographically, economically, ethnically, racially, by gender, by sexuality, politically, by schools we attended, by loyalty to sports teams…you name it, … More It’s All About “Us”
One Saturday morning, when I was probably about 10 years old, my dad said “Todd, today I’m going to teach you how to mow.” My eyes bugged out; it was a terrifying sentence. I didn’t mind the idea of mowing…but I was scared to death of the mower. It was a beast…this big old Sears Craftsman… probably built … More A Perfect 440
On any lazy Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, if I have a little bit of time to kill, I may turn on the TV, just to see what’s on. The answer is usually: nothing. But there is this small sub-set of movies, and regardless of how many times I’ve seen them, if I find one, I’ll always stop to watch. I don’t know … More All In
Test Driving Theology 