I think, sometimes, about our schedules. I think about how they are supposed to be helpful; about how they are meant to assist us with our daily lives; how they should be tools to help keep our lives in order and to help keep us “on track.”...

Those of you who have been regular readers of this column know that I truly love October. It has always been my favorite month, and I was not ashamed to share that fact with the reading public. However, in 2009, my brother lost a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer in the middle of October. The son-in-law of some dear friends lost his long battle with cancer a few days later. Needless to say, October became, for me, a month that no longer held such a sweet place in my heart...

As I write this, I am still reeling from the news that 58 or more concertgoers were killed, and at least 515 (and counting) injured, when a lone gunman opened fire from a hotel window on the strip in Las Vegas. I am, once more, wondering what our world — our nation — has come to. ...

I don’t mean to sound overly sentimental, but I can say that my heart felt extremely heavy recently as I watched Internet reports (because television news wasn’t covering it) of so many wildfires burning out west. Our family has driven through the same places that were burning and spent a lot of time enjoying others...

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my life it’s this: things are never exactly as they seem. It’s like the carnival midway setting up outside my office in preparation for the annual street fair. If you walk down the middle of Main Street, all is colorful and bright and inviting, especially for young people. ...

Last week we celebrated St. Valentine's Day -- a time when all thoughts turn to love and sweethearts and hearts, flowers and candy. But many do not know that San Valentino was a real man who lived, probably, in the third century and was martyred sometime between 296 and 273 A.D. ...

We all know someone, or lots of someones, who might be considered "elderly". They've lived long lives and raised their families. Some have had the pleasure of meeting, holding and loving their children's children, and even their children's children's children. They've also lost loved ones and old friends ... to distance and war and time and accidents and disease...

I recently was reminded of one of the songs I used to like as a young teenager, and one that has been re-written countless times to make it more "Christian." The song was made famous by a group named The Monkees, and the name of the song "Hey, I'm a Believer."...

As we enter into a new year, let's remember to put first things first in our lives. In the sixth chapter of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs those who believe in him to focus on what is necessary to be a success as a Christian. Note, he does not tell us to focus on those things that will make us a success in the world. But, rather, a success as a Christian. He says we are to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."...

Last week I wrote about coming "full circle" with my music and getting "back in the saddle" where performing publicly is concerned. This week I've been blessed with the opportunity to come "back around" in another area of my life. I was asked to get back into the news business as a lead reporter/editor for an area newspaper. And I am glad to report I accepted the challenge...

In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, we are encouraged to seek after wisdom. Likewise, in the New Testament we are exhorted to walk in wisdom. However, in the epistle of James we learn that there is more than just one kind of wisdom; heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. James explores the differences between these two types of wisdom by making several contrasts...

In Chapter 3 of the Epistle of James, we find a discourse on that part of our body that seems to be the must unmanageable -- or untamable -- the tongue. James talks about how small but powerful the tongue really is. He reminds us that although a horse is very large, that strong and sometimes stubborn animal can be controlled by such a small instrument as a bit...

Faith is certainly an essential element in the Christian life. The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God; that the Christian is saved by faith; and that whatever we do apart from faith is sin. We must realize, however, that there are different kinds of faith, and that only one can "save" us. In the second chapter of the book of James we find a discussion about the different kinds of faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of the soul...

I recently spent a couple of days in a town considered one of our nation's biggest tourist attractions. As I walked around observing the sights, I was struck, once again, at how many of the folks milling about were from other countries. It would be fair to say there were people visiting from all over the world. ...

Well, the primaries have concluded and now we look forward to the general election in November. Throughout the past couple of years we have heard a couple of words thrown around from all sides of the political realm. They are "cronyism" and "rigged."...

by Bob Stewart The Shepherd's Heart I might have been a carpenter With a hammer and some nails Or maybe a southbound engineer With my eye upon the rails I might have been a teacher Working for a noble cause Or maybe an officer of the peace Enforcing the nation's laws...

This week, we get to "enjoy" the Republican Party's celebration/slug-fest/nominating process played out on our television screens and mobile devices 24-hours a day. And then (say it isn't so) next week we get to see the Democrats do the same thing. Promises will be made. ...

I know Father's Day has already come and gone, but I just had to give a shout out to the man who brought me up. He was a hard working man as far back as I can remember. He worked for 42 years at a steel mill in Kansas City, changing shifts every week and sometimes working double shifts several times a week. ...

I remember that long line of tea pots lining the wall atop the "sideboard" in my grandmother's dining room. There were pots that looked like chickens and milk cows and all different types of farm animals. Some were beautifully floral in design; some had gold trim and a shiny surface that looked polished and refined. Others, like the corn teapot, had salt and pepper shakers and a corn cob shaped butter dish to go along with them...

I remember that long line of tea pots lining the wall atop the "sideboard" in my grandmother's dining room. There were pots that looked like chickens and milk cows and all different types of farm animals. Some were beautifully floral in design; some had gold trim and a shiny surface that looked polished and refined. Others - like the corn teapot - had salt and pepper shakers and a corn cob shaped butter dish to go along with them...