This little Chickadee was eating from the feeder in front of the East Side Chapel last weekend while I was speaking at Camp Barakel. Chuk braved the cold and snow to get this outstanding up-close photo.

I am convinced that John Piper is a gift to the church for our day. Often when I observe the apostasy and coldness of the church, the compromise and worldliness… my heart aches, but when I read men like John Piper and see that there are many who long for their faithful treatment of the Word, my heart is alive with hope again. Thank God for Piper. I say read him and read those he reads and let God do a deeper work in your soul. …

Starbucks is taking over the planet. We serve it with our Character Lunches here in the Character Inn. Last week I was in the Meijer Department store on 28th Street in Grand Rapids. They have a Starbucks in the front of the store.
Since I would be driving back to Flint in the night I decided I would pick up a big black coffee for the road. The young lady working the stand was wearing a cast on her arm. When people are wearing a …

One day my son Kyle came into my office and asked if he thought if he should take a break from his study and go to the park. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and the park was calling his name. Now this is not as simple a decision as it might sound. You never know what a park or picnic might hold. Both my father and I met our wives as at church picnics so you want to think twice before you stay home with …

We have just enjoyed another Michigan snowfall. It is beautiful outside. All the pine trees are holding snow. I spoke to a group of men last Saturday morning. On my way to the meeting the snow was falling thick and beautiful. I don’t know why people would want to live in Arizona or Florida when they could enjoy such beauty.

I’ve been thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. I suppose weight management might be the number one New Year’s Resolution. I was reading the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. He was probably one of the greatest theologians and preachers ever in America. He wrote his resolutions in his youth and tried to follow them all his life. They are very lofty and deeply spiritual as was the man. Two of his list of life-long resolutions included moderation in eating and drinking. Here they are:

Sometimes I get to thinking long ago and far away thoughts. Sometimes long ago and far away thoughts make me smile. Sometimes long ago and far way thoughts make me cry. But some of my favorite long ago and far away thoughts make my mouth water.