Disclaimer: Never have I ever seen even a fraction of an episode of Naked and Afraid on Discovery Network. Still, the title is paying high dollar rent in my mind this week. In the ancient world, clothing wasn’t fashion. It was identity. In every culture, including the present, clothing speaks. It’s an underrated nonverbal communicator.  You can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress. Style communicates the interests and affiliations a person has, the community he or

I don’t recall what year it was. I don’t recall which daughter it was. And I don’t even recall the specific circumstances. None of that really matters anyway. Suffice it to say, I was using my “dad voice” and emphasizing something with one of the girls that she [in all her teenage glory] did not particularly appreciate. All the moms and dads out there can relate, right? Susan and I engaged in a little side convo about my dad-discipline to which she remarked, “You need to choo

The beautiful snow on Saturday [1/24/26] was followed by equally beautiful, yet totally treacherous ice on Sunday [1/25/26] and we had fair warning courtesy of literally ever weather forecast outlet. We were stocked and ready for an isolated week at home, holding on to hope that we wouldn't lose power. Alas, we did. Knowing that Simon's respiratory therapy machines require electricity and one of his important meds, refrigeration, we made the quick decision to shelter at a hot

Take a minute to read Mark’s account of Jesus calming the storm: aboard a boat; Sea of Galilee - 2019 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”    Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.    A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and sa

The traditional view of three wise men or magi dates back to the 8th century. So, basically, five years into Christianity's legal status within the Roman empire, the magi magically got names and an associated number that conveniently coordinated with the number of gifts they brought. Caspar, Melchoir and Balthasar didn't just get names. They got ethnicity too. Traditionally, Melchior [often portrayed as more European] brought gold, symbolizing Christ's royalty. Casper [often

Sometimes called "Three Kings Day," Epiphany marks Magi visiting Jesus. I had an epiphany over Epiphany. See what I did there? I didn’t...

Have you heard the expression, "silence speaks volumes?" I took a non-verbal communication class in undergrad. From the perspective of a...

Okay Joshua 5, I see you and yep, Charles Spurgeon was right. You’re a good one to read on the brink of a brand new year. And, while I...