Author: Nick

“Vacation” is an interesting word. The root is “vacate” or to empty. The word originated in the era in which the well-to-do would “vacate” their normal residences during the “season” and move to seaside or mountain second homes. They were said to be “on vacation” or “vacationers.” The usage eventually spread to the masses, you and me. It seems not only our normal residences are emptied during vacation. The vacation process is an emptying of the day-to-day junk that seems determined to fill our lives. I know with smart phones and tablets it’s hard to leave all of our usual lives behind, but we still try to empty out as much junk as possible. When the junk is all cleared away, what’s left? Looking at the vacant faces of many of my fellow vacationers, I have to think, “not much.” What if we empty ourselves of the junk and there is nothing left, no substance, nothing to hang on to or be proud of? What should be left when the junk is cleared? I like what Casting Crowns sings in their song “Thrive.” “We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives It’s time for us […]

Success in the Christian walk is dependent on fueling our faith, fighting fear and framing our feelings. The problem is that we get it all mixed up. We fuel our fear, frame our faith and fight our feelings. Some days we frame our fear, fight our faith and fuel our feelings. Well, you get the picture. It’s a good thing to remind ourselves what we should be doing. Fueling our faith.  I don’t see how anyone makes it without faith. Many try. All fail. It doesn’t take a bunch of faith to make it. If we will just fuel faith, really great things can happen. You fuel faith like you fuel a fire. You feed it. You throw everything into it. Troubles? Into the fire of faith. Doubts? Toss them in. Challenges? Just make the fire bigger. Faith is about recognizing what’s really true. God is true. His provision is real. His love is truly alive. Fighting our fear.  We all fear. We don’t all admit it but we do. Jesus told us not to. Fear not. Fight it. Recognize it as soon as it show up. Identify it for what it is and turn from it. Just as […]

This morning early I began my pre-trip preparations. My wife, her sister and I are taking our grandson Nicky and granddaughter Samantha to Branson. It’s the kind of trip Rose and I have planned for years. It may be our only best shot of doing it. Nicky’s thirteen. Vacations with grand parents may not be high on his bucket list much longer. Sammy’s not far behind. Packing emphasized something I knew but perhaps didn’t fully realize. The most important items that I dare not forget are not my underwear, socks or even my medication. The most important things to never forget are my electronics. I like to say “electrons” to show off my Navy electronics training. I’ll bring my iPhone, my iPad and my MacBook Pro. (You would think I could get some payback from Apple for this blog.) The kids will likely forget underwear and toothbrushes. Phones will not be forgotten. My wife will claim to be electron free, but the thought of her without her iPad is too frightening for me to consider. After 45 years of marriage there aren’t that many conversations we haven’t had. A quiet evening at home now includes just us (and our electrons). […]

I was sitting in the car watching people arrive and leave the Wal-Mart. I am not a Wal-Mart people watcher by nature or trade. My wife was in the store and I was waiting for her. I have to admit there were some pretty strange sights moving in and out of the big box store. Some seemed in a hurry just to get in and out. Others acted as if they were on the adventure of a life time; maybe they were. I know it’s been popular to make jokes about Wal-Mart People and to post not very faltering pictures of them on the internet. I admit that I was tempted to snap a few pics of the folks I saw flowing in and out. But I saw some special things. Young couples obviously in love. Older couples making a date out of a trip to Wal-Mart. Young women with baskets piled high and a worried look that the food and supplies budget for the month might be busted. Some folks came in and left very alone. Taking their time, making the trip take up as much of their lonely day as possible. Wal-Mart people can be amusing and […]

Are you sometimes so busy with things to do that  you do nothing? I get like that. My head starts swimming. I feel my heart start beating hard. I’ll start to go one way, then stop and turn around. I find myself in a room and don’t remember why I’m there. I know I have much to do. I have to just keep on moving, and thinking, and worrying and panicking. . . and accomplishing nothing. I’m starting to learn that if I’ll turn to the Lord in times like these, He will do one of two things, sometimes both. 1. He’ll send an angel. I’m reminded of Megan Reaux’s post on Facebook. With just hours to go before the flight back to Africa and ministry, that “so busy” feeling has to be taking over. God sent her an angel to help. I was concerned about getting my Covenant Spotlight mags out this weekend with so much going on. God sent an angel or two to help. Now, I just have Milton and Maurice to deal with. “Milton and Maurice” sounds like a singing duo. 2. He’ll guide your path.  Just ask. If He doesn’t send help, He may just […]

I just finished taking an “are you stressed?” survey. It consisted of checking off a list of possible stressors that in your life. The stressor that I was focused on isn’t even on the list. I looked for a blank to “write in” my favorite but could find no place to do that. Computers are so narrow-minded. Even without my focused on major stressor, I think I “failed” the test.  “Your score means a significant amount of life change and a significant susceptibility (about 80% probability) to stress-related illness.” I’m feeling sick already. Sleep deprivation is my favorite stress illness. I really hadn’t thought about many of the stressors on the list that I’m facing: retirement, change in work situation, change in economic situation, new family member (come on great grand son), change, change change. I’m having a lot of it. In fact, most of it is good. My office is better organized than ever. I appreciate the beautiful property we live on more than ever.  I have finally cancelled all the cable channels I never watch. I have admitted that my wife has been right all along and TIVO is the only way to watch television. I am eating […]

My granddaughter and her husband are getting baptized on Sunday. You better believe I will be there. I’ll go for many reasons. When I was “baptized” as a child, it was with family and friends gathered. I, of course, don’t remember that. I had little to do with the decision to have it done. The ceremony was an expression of the hopes and desires of my family and that’s a good thing I was baptized again nearly 60 years later. It was about family again. This time I was baptized and turned around and baptized my grandson at the same time and in the same waters. I remember that one. It’s a day I will never forget. I had been following Jesus for many years but it didn’t seem right that I had never been baptized because I wanted to do it.  Some of us thought that little Nicky was “too young” but it was his decision and the years since have proved that it was the right one. He’s proving to be a true follower of Christ. I’ll be there Sunday because we all want our children and their children to know Jesus like we do. We just […]