Rite of passage: Where’s the love?
Recently, I had a birthday, and many have asked me how old I am. Let’s just say I am getting close to the age where I can plan my own surprise birthday party. While I was out speaking one night, Grammy had Titus the Honorable and Cohen the Goodhearted come over and secretly make Poppy a birthday card and some gifts. I guess someone didn’t tell Cohen the Goodhearted it was supposed to be a secret, because as soon as I opened the door,...
Rite of Passage: Here to Serve
Last week, I participated in my 33rd year as one of the Tulsa State Fair chaplains. All the chaplains are volunteers. We don’t get paid; many take time out of their jobs to serve in this capacity. I look forward to this type of ministry. I sometimes find myself stuck every day going to a “Christian” building, working with Christian people and teaching the Bible to Christian people. I often feel I work, live and play inside a Christian...
Rite of passage: Stranger danger
Stranger Danger was something I actively taught my children. I instructed them, “Don’t take candy from strangers; Don’t get into a car with strangers,” etc. I even role played this for them. I would dress up in a trench coat (I read too many Mad Magazines as a child). I would approach them with candy and try to lure them into my car. They learned to yell “NO!” and runaway. Now, I know most predators don’t wear trench coats any more,...
Rite of Passage: A Man’s World
One day an English professor wrote these words on the blackboard, “Woman without her man is nothing.” He directed his students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men wrote, “Woman, without her man, is nothing.” The women wrote, “Woman! Without her, man is nothing.” These answers don’t surprise me. Throughout the years, I have suggested that many of my young male and some of the female students read...
Rite of passage: Conversations with Cohen the Goodhearted
I wonder sometimes what our conversations with God sound like from His side. Does He see our prayers as meaningful dialogue? Or do we come across as a child does to an adult? Cohen the Goodhearted, who is rapidly approaching 3 ½ years of age, is now is at the stage where we can understand 89-96 percent of what he says. He also has the desire to express his thoughts and feelings to anyone who will listen. When Cohen is talking to you,...
Rite of Passage: Not interested
For many years I served with an organization called Awe Star Missions. Every year, this ministry hosts a conference called iGO. Youth pastors, students, parents and missionaries from all around the world collide in one place for a time to focus on Christ’s commandment to go and make disciples of all nations. At this conference, God has spoken to many believers to engage with His plan of living out the lifestyle of a missionary. These...
