Guys – Two weeks ago my family had a very difficult week; Wednesday and Thursday of that week being the worst I’ve had in a very long time. I even know why it’s been this way. I’ll tell you, but the reason why isn’t nearly as important as my feelings and response. It’s clear to [...]

I’ve been thinking a lot in the past week about disaster recoveries. We’ve seen some monumental disasters in the last few years and how those disasters affect mankind. The most famous disaster of the last ten years or so is undoubtedly the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11. We all stood [...]

Of all the disciples, I think I like John the best because he likes to keep things simple. When John wrote 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John toward the end of the New Testament, he was nearly 100 years old. He was the only remaining disciple on the planet. That means, of the twelve men who [...]

Now that I have your attention… I can’t believe that it’s been nearly three months since I’ve written a post on this web site. We’ve been busy with the Family Mental Health Summit, working on programming, and, of course, supporting and encouraging married Christian men. Remember, I promised I wouldn’t write on a schedule because [...]

I was watching the Michigan vs. Western Michigan game on TV Saturday afternoon and was barraged by all of the ads for the fall line up of new shows on ABC.  Over and over again, the television network tried to make me feel like the shows they are putting up for me to watch this [...]

Hand-in-hand with discouragement goes frustration.  For some guys it’s a cocktail of discouragement, frustration, anger, with twist of resentment.  I know.  I’ve felt this.  What’s important to know about this combination is that it’s dangerous, unless you deal with it appropriately.  Left unchecked, it’s only a short step from here to verbal and physical abuse. [...]

Have you ever had one of those times when unrelated people in unrelated circumstances say the same things to you over and over?  The State of Michigan used to run a lottery commercial where this guy is out running errands and he sees the same numbers in different places, like the cash register total, his [...]

I live in West Michigan and there are times when we get fog that sets in over night.  It hangs low to the ground and settles into the low-lying areas.  If you’re on the crest of a hill you can look down into it.  However, driving down into it can severely hinder visibility.  It hangs [...]

I want to talk to you about some of the stuff going on in my  life because you might be seeing some of the same things. The number of men I see and talk to who are really beaten down and discouraged amazes me lately. I see guys getting hammered by finances, job loss, marital [...]

Remember the old game we used to play before the days of caller-ID when we used to open the phone book to a random page, pick a random number, and start making prank phone calls?  That’s the approach I took tonight when I began my quiet time.  I unzipped the cover on my Bible and [...]

I’ve had a bad case of writer’s block lately.  For some reason it just seemed like God’s words to me have been shut off.  I’ve felt lost in the Bible when I’ve sat down to read – like there is just words on a page with no rhyme or meaning.  Sometimes when I write it’s [...]

My friend, Norm, sent an article my way this week that led me on a mental goose chase. My inspired brain finally settled on a seldom considered role of fatherhood – that of teaching sons to be men. So, taking a cue from my good friend Ed, who always encourages me to ask open-ended questions, [...]