Dear Friends, This morning I had to make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up some supplies for church, and as I was checking out, I asked the cashier, “How’s life was going for ya?” He responded with, “I’m just hoping to just get across the finish line.” I wasn't quite sure what he meant, because he didn’t look like a runner, and we were standing in a grocery store - not on a racetrack. But I didn’t want to assume anything based on his appearance, so I went ahead and

Dear Friends, On the way to the church today I came across a large bird in the middle of the road, feasting on the remains of a dead rabbit. When the bird saw my car coming, it gripped the rabbit firmly in its talons and tried to fly away. However, the rabbit was too heavy, and so the bird wasn’t able to take off. It was obvious that this bird did not want to leave its meal behind, but it also seemed to understand the danger my car presented. So with very little room to spare

Dear Friends, Earlier this week I traveled to California for a pastor’s conference. When we arrived at the airport, I followed the crowd to the baggage area to pick up my suitcase. When I got there, I noticed a small group of men standing in the waiting area who were obviously from another country. These men looked different, sounded different, had clothing that was different, and were acting differently than the rest of the people there. All of that “difference” made them re