Burgers

Every year, Americans eat enough hamburgers that if stacked side to side would stretch around the Earth 32 times. That is 50 billion burgers. I did the math. That comes to 156 burgers per person, per year. And that comes to 125,000 calories per person, per year. That equals the suggested calorie intake for two…

Journey

Let’s talk “journey.” The road is not always easy, but it is always worth it. God promises, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).  Add these words from Max Lucado: “God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.”…

Illegal Snow Cones

I’m old-fashioned. I think a nation should actually enforce its own laws, whether I personally agree with every law or not. Like in Providence, Rhode Island. It is against the law to sell both toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday. Does that make sense? Maybe not. But it’s the law.…

Mountain Preacher

The first person to climb Denali (Mt. McKinley) may surprise you. It happened 111 years ago today. Hudson Stuck led a group of friends across the difficult terrain of Alaska. In March, the 20,310-foot climb was planned. Undeterred by altitude sickness, bitter cold, and avalanches, the team of three men reached the summit on June…

Chocolate Easter Bunnies

When I was a child, Easter was a fun time. Mom and Dad hid Easter eggs all over the house and yard. My brother and I filled our baskets with all kinds of calories and fat grams.  But the “prize” was the coveted chocolate Easter bunny. I begged for one every year. Mom usually gave…

Play It Again, Sam!

If you know anything about old movies, you are familiar with this iconic line from the classic, Casablanca. “Play it again, Sam.” The problem is that Sam, in the movie, couldn’t actually “play it again,” because he was a drummer, not a piano player.  We know that nothing is impossible with God. Jesus said it…

I Write the Songs

Okay, fellow Barry Manilow fans, get ready to be disappointed. You are familiar with his most popular song, I Write the Songs. Here’s the sad part. Barry Manilow didn’t write that song. I Write the Songs was actually written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. The 1976 hit won the Grammy Award for “Song…

Heroes

With all famous people, there is something you didn’t know. For example: It gets worse. Think about your personal heroes. I have had several. Many of them are in heaven now. A couple of them are still living, in their 90s. But here’s the thing. Heroes have faults. I was rocked to my core when…

The Price of Throwing Christmas Trees

A woman lost her $823,000 injury claim after lawyers found a photo of her winning a Christmas tree-throwing competition. Yes, you read that correctly. Kamila Grabska, age 36, was in a car accident which she claims left her unable to work. When her insurance refused to pay, she sued them for $823,000. Her case looked…

Who Needs to Know?

Be wise about who you tell your story to, how much of it you tell, and when to stop talking. Henri Nouwen wrote, “There is a false form of honesty that suggests that nothing should remain hidden and that everything should be said.” He then talked about “protecting your inner sanctuary.” There is often a…