Serve by Design

Last Monday was Senior’s Day at the Illinois State Fair. For several years now, Monique and I have leveraged our retirement age and the privilege of free admission for old folks! It was a beautiful midmorning as we entered the main gate with delightful anticipation and a little extra energy in our step. We knew the location of our favorites for food and exhibits! Our eyes were also alert to any available benches, along the way, for rest and people watching. This was our annual visit to the fair! It was a couple of hours later, after our visits to Vose Korndogs and the Pork Pavillion, that we had doubled back for a momentary respite in the Coliseum to watch the draft horse and pony show. As we sat there looking at some of the horses being groomed, I noticed what appeared to be a feat of physicality and creative achievement. One of the contestants was a cute older grade schoolgirl. She was curiously lying on her belly straddling the backside of a very large horse. While facing downward...

I have become an advocate for the next generation of leaders. You’ve heard it said, “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders!” I like what I see in today’s youth! That’s why I seldom turn down an opportunity to engage and be with them. This past week, I participated in a youth police camp sponsored by the local American Legion and the Illinois State Police. It was on the beautiful campus of Camp Lincoln here in Springfield, Illinois. This was my third year serving as an ISP chaplain and taking part in the camp graduation ceremony! Homemade Blackberry Pie Thanks, Sis!! The State Police Youth Academy was first conducted in July of 1972. Each year since, young men and women are invited and sponsored to participate in an intensive week of physical training, classroom instruction in law enforcement, field trips to interesting sites, and recreation that bonds them with new friends. They learn about discipline, teamwork, and respect for themselves and others. During this year’s ceremony, a ver...

Have you ever been “gifted” with a very ripe banana? I used to wilt (another related pun idea!) when during my college days, my pastor and future father-in-law, would reach up to the top of his refrigerator and offer me an undesirable banana that had been languishing for days. I wanted him to like me for several reasons. So, when he’d say, “Here Mike, take this home with you!” What was I to say? I’d tuck the little booger in my pocket and say with an insincere mumble, “Sure. Thanks.” Ripening Bananas! freepikcom I’m a little cautious about eating anything labeled as a “genetically modified organism” or GMO for short. But a recent article about what some British scientists are doing with bananas has caught my attention. Now I’m thinking, “Maybe?!” I love bananas on my breakfast cereal, but like many of us, I have trouble managing the basket of bananas before they become so ripe that the only alternative is to make banana bread or pancakes. And I’d rather not add more carbs to my diet! ...

During the last twenty and a half years, we have been blessed with twelve grandchildren. In the early days of our grandparenting, we began to accumulate various toys in one of our extra bedroom closets to stimulate these eager minds. We have cars and trucks, action figures, all sizes of building blocks, bags full of plastic Tinker Toys and containers loaded with every conceivable shape of Legos. Our grands have grown up using their imaginations to create and build things.  Our Proud Builder! Just this past Sunday, we had family over and after lunch they literally were “all over the house!” Some were in the back chilling with their cell phones while others were sprawling all over the family room floor. At least one was cocooned in a sofa blanket as the others relaxed in recliners half-way watching football on the television but mostly they were laughing, chatting about nonsense, but enjoying each other! It was family at its best! Our youngest grandson caught me heading down the ha...

In the days of Lent leading up to Easter, many of us may have made some renewed promises related to our spiritual growth. Now, I wonder how we are doing in keeping those promises. It is not easy to follow through when there are so many distractions. Clear, sunny days with warmer temperatures call us to get outdoors where sporting activities, family gatherings, and home projects get in the way of following through. Our progress report card may have various boxes to be checked: weekly church attendance. small group participation, and service in the community. Are we keeping current with daily Bible readings, making time for prayerful reflections, and for those who like to write, journaling our insights? I like to follow the advice of one of my seminary professors years ago who declared, “You haven’t really thought about something until you have written it down.” This adage has kept me thinking and writing! 😉 A Heart for God! Image credit: seekPNG.com This Easter season, our church pas...

My beloved wife has many gifts, but one that is little known is her ability to capture (and sometimes release to the outdoors) pesky flies that follow us into the house each summer season! With a fluid motion and sweeping hand, she is nearly flawless in grasping her prey. The Venus Flytrap can close its hinged blades in a half-second of movement! I believe Monique is even quicker! When I compare her to the super hero of my childhood, she is almost “faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive,” but she’s not “able to leap tall buildings at a single bound” like she used to though! Image credit: istockphoto.com I marveled today as she captured two of our evasive and airborne pests! One was creeping up and down the window sill and the other was resting on the curved side of the lavatory basin. The latter catch was nothing short of miraculous in technique! I suggested after this deftly feat of cupped hand dexterity that the International Olympic Committee should co...