God is with me
He had no rights, no place to hang his hat, or no one to call his very own. One day, he was forcefully wrenched from what had been his temporary home.

Listen to the silence
The crowd didn’t know what to think. Some loved him and hung on his every word. Others hated him, seeking just the right time to hang him.

Thieves
The stately brick house was in the older residential section of town. Surrounded by towering cottonwoods and eternal evergreens, the home was set back protectively from the street.

Are you ready?
He stood before the president of the United States unshaven, in a pair of dirty jeans and an old tattered shirt. He regretted that moment for a long, long time.

The mind of God
Chanting children sing, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."   

The rested optimist
I tend to be an optimist; I look at life as if something good could happen any moment.

Forwarded prayers
Somehow, I have gotten on a few people’s “This is so great I have to forward this to everyone I know” list. I just hate that.

An altered soul
My children have forever altered the landscape of my soul.

Shocked by ‘The Shack’
I looked down, and what I saw shocked me. I staggered over to the towel rack, gasped and about fell over.

We are not alone
He rode on the hood of the car and, by his very presence, seemed to be steering through a blizzard on a dangerous stretch of icy highway.

Dead dreams
I stood on a stage bathed in bright lights, and the crowd cheered wildly. I humbly bowed my head and then blew kisses while receiving the adulation that was due such a performer as I.

The saddest thing of all
We are rugged individuals.

Another’s words
I love words. That’s obvious, you muse, for here you read many of my words. But truly, I don’t love my words nearly as much as I love the words of others.

The call to commitment
I am already impressed with you. If having read the title to my column this week and you still decided to read on instead of heading for the sports section, then you are valiant indeed.

Promises, promises
When was the last time you made a promise to someone? Maybe you didn’t preface your commitment with, “I promise,” but you meant it. It was your word, or assurance, that you’d follow through.

Hopelessly hopeful
Have you ever been in a job where you work and work and work and it seems to get you nowhere? What about a marriage? You give and give and nothing changes?

Random thoughts
I just spent five days with a group of girlfriends. We went shopping, we ate, we sat in the sun, we ate, we went shopping, we ate, we sat in the sun, and we ate.

The best part of our today
I love kids; they make me laugh.

Let the wind blow
Wonderful Wyoming. Snow capped mountains, clean air and wind. Wildlife, lakes and wind. Good schools, low crime rate and wind.

In the Master’s hands
Do you ever fall into bed at night, as if you have been beaten and bloodied by your worst enemy?

Practice listening
Are you a good listener? Do you hear what your kids are trying to tell you? Do you hear your friend when she is talking? Do you hear when your wife is telling you a story?

Living the good life
Have you ever caught yourself whispering to yourself, “Now this is the good life”?

The best choice anytime
I love teenagers.

Food for thought
Would you eat brownies that had a little bit of dog poop mixed in the batter?

Call on God
The Vietnam War raged around the tiny village. Neighbors had viciously turned enemies, and foreigners fought a war they hardly understood.

‘Please don't disturb’
Have you ever been afraid of the dark, the boogie man, or evil spirits? Do you hear suspicious noises when you are alone or imagine a crazy person trying to break into your home while you sleep?

Christianity’s reputation
Is Christianity’s image is slipping?

No fear
Every once in a while, I get stopped behind a truck (or sporty little car) that has one of those bumper stickers that reads, “No Fear.”

Just a part of the victory
The battle raged as swords caused blood to flow and mothers to be sonless. Fierce nomads who sneered at death and killed for pleasure attacked the band of Israelites moving through the desert shortly after their release from bondage.

Impossible situations
Have you ever faced such gigantic odds that you knew defeat was inevitable? Have you ever failed so big that you intuitively understood that no matter what you did, you’d never regain that lost ground?