“Good fences make good neighbors.” I was a teenager and had no idea what Dad was talking about, so he explained: There are plenty of opportunities for neighbors, even very good people, to get into conflict with one another. Well-built, well-maintained fences help to reduce many of...
This past weekend was a rather emotional one. Valentine’s Day was the 30th anniversary of our engagement to be married. The following day two beloved members of our household passed away. Over 18 years ago I returned from work to find a long-haired, black and white...
Several years ago I was surprised in an interview with a church leader when he asked me, “How do you love your wife?” I am embarrassed to say that my mind immediately reached for Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. You know the poem: “How do...
It has often been said that a wise man learns from his mistakes. It could be stated that a really wise man learns from the mistakes—and successes—of others. Cohabitation (couples living together without being married) is on the rise. According to one recent study about one-half...
Research from the US, Great Britton, Germany, Belgium and Sweden all support the same conclusion: time spent on Facebook is a poor investment in your own happiness. The “social media” phenomenon is not really new. Before Facebook came MySpace, Bebo and a few other online services...
I would like to suggest a New Year’s resolution that will not cost any money, take any time, nor require a gym membership. But this resolution is guaranteed to improve your life as well as the lives of those around you. I suggest your resolve to...
When angels heralded the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, they praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) That phrase has been repeated millions of times over the past 2000 years, often...
Since 1988, when I first began counseling couples, families and individuals, I have noticed an interesting holiday phenomenon: people often call for appointments, desperate for help dealing with the stress and distress associated with “the most wonderful time of the year”. But I also saw...
Nary has a Christmas season gone by without watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the classic film in which Jimmy Stewart plays a normal, struggling guy who learns the value of his life by seeing what the world would be without him. I know of no...
There is much discussion in this country right now on the topic of racial prejudice. Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have pushed it to the forefront of national media and local minds alike. But what is prejudice? “Prejudice is prejudgment, or forming an opinion before becoming...
