Author: Nick

It all started with a discussion on what to “fast from.” You see at our church we are doing a 21 day “fast.” You know “crucify the flesh.” Hear God better. That kind of thing. My pastor doesn’t want us “bragging” about our fast but mine is so weak, it really wouldn’t be bragging. I’m just going to give up bragging.  I mentioned it to my wife whose response was, “You should give up Facebook.” After 48 years of marriage, you would think she would run out of silly things to say. I gave my usual response to silly things, that would be an eye roll. I would never give up Facebook. My 2253 friends (that is the real number. I’m a real friendly guy) hang on my every utterance. It did seem that Facebook was a bit of a distraction to which I had become addicted. What to do? What I did decide to do was to make my friends less annoying. Wish that worked with the family.  I was being notified every time someone burped on Facebook and I felt obliged to respond, like, comment, un-friend, something. I was getting notifications several times an hour and each time […]

I’m in my 69th year and every one has been different. No reason to believe that 2019 won’t follow that pattern. I hope some of 2018 sticks around. Last year, I returned to my 6-day-a-week swimming habit and that,  combined with healthier eating, reaped a reward of lower weight, higher energy and better attitude.  I’m starting 2019 with some changes. At 2 o’clock this morning I began my Chronological read of the Bible. My pastor is doing it and I am going to follow along. I can’t imagine that daily Bible reading won’t be great.  I want to blog each day. I hear some of you moaning, but I don’t do it for you. I find that blogging helps motivate and organize my day. It starts me off putting the Kingdom first. Call me on it if I fall short. My big “resolution” however is to be more grateful. I saw “The Key to Unhappiness” a great Prager U video tying gratefulness to happiness. As to the “how-to” on that, Nanette Cook, my councilperson, wrote a very practical helpful article in Active Acadiana. (I know I feel your shock at learning I would read something called Active.) Teaching Gratitude at Christmas […]

I’m not doing Christmas Cards this year. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas Cards. I do. I enjoy getting them from the ones I Iove or at least like a lot. I don’t get the same thrill from the cards I get from the bank, or real estate agents, or other lawyers who I savored destroying during the year.  I have sent out Christmas cards for years. I was beginning to feel more like the bank or a realtor than a loving friend. It was a machine like process. Sure I included some precious people on my list but they ended up getting treated like the lawyers I like to bash. It just didn’t seem right. This year I took the money I spent on Christmas cards for the last few years and gave it to charity. I chose the Refinery a mission for men in Opelousas. I have the privilege of ministering to the men there as they do to me. I believe in what is being done there and this seemed a better use of my time and money. I admit I did send a few cards. I returned cards to those who sent cards to […]

I wrote this article for Covenant Spotlight’s December issue. I suspect there may be a wider audience that needs to read it.  Christmas blues are very real. For many what should be the most joyous time of the year, is the darkest. Those holiday blues can be banished, but it takes some work. If you, or someone you love, is a blues victim this time of the year, the key to banishment is identifying the source. The blues may be rooted in jealousy. In every life, there is someone who does Christmas better. You know the type. The Christmas decorations magically appear on Black Friday and disappear on Epiphany. Gifts are purchased and wrapped by December 1st. Holiday meals are torn from the pages of Good Housekeeping. We can’t hope to measure up. CHRISTMAS IS NOT A CONTEST. Sometimes we are really competing with memories. We strive to make this Christmas like the ones we remember, or worse we try to make up for the Christmases we never had and believe we deserved. CHRISTMAS PAST WAS NEVER AS GOOD OR BAD AS WE REMEMBER. Sometimes we try to make up at Christmas for what we mess up all year. Gift […]

On the first Sunday of 2019 at 9 a.m. at Amana Christian Fellowship, we will begin a ten-week series based on Francis Chan’s Letters to the Church. We will be posting updates on our Facebook page. We will begin each session with a short video message from Francis Chan followed by a discussion of the chapter of the week. Even if you can’t make the Sunday 9 a.m. sessions, I strongly suggest you digest the book. It’s available in paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook. Copies of the paperback will be available in the lobby at Amana, and of course on Amazon and “where great books are sold.” It retails for about $11 but put what you can in the envelope when you grab your copy.  The book is causing a great deal of excitement in the church. This isn’t a study of the letters to the churches found in the Book of Revelations. After Chan finished the book, he realized each chapter was more like a letter. Thus the name.  It is a call for us to “Rethink Church.” It asks: “If all you had to reference was the Bible, what would Church look like? This isn’t about bashing pastors or calling for […]

Recently my grandson got his license. We faced the concerns of all parents and “grands”: safe driving, mature decisions, “where the hell is he?” We knew it was all part of growing up but we were worried. We found out “There’s an app for that.” Life360 is a marvelous app. Like most apps, you can get the basics or you can go premium. Through the app, you will know where the kid is, how much charge is on his phone (we’ve all heard the “My phone ran out of power” excuse.) and how he or she is driving. We know if he speeds, brakes too hard and what routes he takes. It’s marvelous. You can get it at the usual places depending on if you are an apple or android person. (Never thought I would be saying that.) The app is comforting. It addresses our worries. The big surprise is that, although he probably won’t admit it, he feels consoled as well. Hell, it’s a scary and dangerous world out there especially if you are a teenager. It’s comforting to know someone who loves you is watching and will know if you get in an accident or do something stupid…or […]

I got two strong complements today on my new t-shirt while shopping at Wal-Mart. I picked the shirt up at the church to support a campaign aimed at homelessness. It proclaims, “Jesus Christ Lives.” This simple line is truly radical. It means a man who lived 2000 years ago and died, is alive now. It means that death is no longer the last victor; it’s not the end, more like the beginning. It means this one man was more than a man. It changes everything. It’s radical. The complements, “I like your shirt.” came with bright cheerful smiles. I know what you are thinking, “That Nick is some radical, displaying boldly His follow ship of Jesus while shopping at Wal-Mart.” Some of you skeptics might have said something more like, “That doesn’t sound like Nick. He’s no radical.” The sad truth is the whole thing was an accident. I put on my new t-shirt after changing out of my church clothes. I thought of it as something to wear around the house. I had no plans to do anything but work in the yard. Our yard is too big and isolated for anyone to care what I’m wearing. When I needed some add-ons […]

  So what are you thankful for. I am asking you on Wednesday so you can practice. You know you will be asked tomorrow and you don’t what to foul up.  There are lots of ways to foul up: Forget to be thankful for someone present at the “ceremony.” – Look around and say something like “Of course I am thankful for everyone here.” Then go on to the one thing that will knock everyone out.  You want to earn a black belt in thankfulness. Not be able to think of anything – That’s why we are practicing today.  Not appearing genuine. Make sure you practice being authentic. Nothing worse than a fraud on turkey day.  Not appearing to enjoy the procedure. You must play happy and really interested in what everyone else is thankful for. Playing with your phone (including having ear buds stuck in your ear.) This is crucial. If nothing else and you are the only one following this rule, you will be considered a wonderful person and you know you could use an upgrade on your creds.  Not having a well thought out thank you. Of course, this is what it’s all about. I am […]