Yesterday I left “Rudy” (Hannah Ruth) at Lake Ann Camp to be a counselor for the summer. (As you can see, I didn’t have my official photographer with me, but I did capture a likeness of Hannah when we arrived at Lake Ann).
It was bitter-sweet to drive away and home, leaving Hannah “alone” for the first time ever. She will be there until mid-August. On the drive home across our beautiful state I had time to quietly think about Hannah. She has been a delightful daughter to have in our …

My Grandfather Pierpont grew up near Chatham, Ohio in the days when cars were a novelty of the rich. For staples and supplies that the family couldn’t grow on the farm they would take a buggy to the village store. He often told the story about what happened on one of those trips to town. It was winter. The river was frozen and the ground was covered with snow. The trip to Chatham would be an adventure that winter day. They would use the sleigh. The whole family clamored to …

When I pass a golf course and I see a guy getting ready to hit the ball, I’m the kind of guy who loves to sound his horn. People don’t usually think that is funny but I think it’s playful and it keeps me young and golfers take themselves too seriously anyway. The road home passes two golf courses. One of them passes between the front and back nines. On a nice clear day there is almost always someone on the tee waggling the driver and feeling like Tiger Woods. …

Here is an anointed clip from the preaching of John Piper.

Sometimes people will try to hurt you. When that happens, see to it you are completely right with God. If God is for us, does it really matter who is against us? (Romans 8:31) He can defend you. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. He will exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) For many years now I have been comforted by these words:
Thomas a Kempis wrote;
“Regard not much who is for thee, or against …

Garrison Keillor is a funny man, but I don’t think he has heard the call of the wild. What do you think?
What truly cheers me up through these dog days of summer is the thought that two old friends of mine are up north on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and that I am not there with them. I am here, reading the paper, and if I wanted to go to a movie, I could go, and if I wished to use a flush …

In October of 2005 we drove west on an adventure with the boys. In Colorado we drove up in to the Rocky Mountains and spent an afternoon in Estes Park. While the boys hiked around the village I stayed in the car and nursed by “out of joint” foot. I groaned and prayed and gritted my teeth, but while I was there I observed something that struck be as funny. Across the street was a man in a pleated skirt. He had long hair …

Speaking of wild at heart, here is an interesting quote I ran across in my journal the other day: “It is not really a wilderness if there is nothing out there that can eat you.”

In large parts of Mexico they do not stock the bathrooms with toilet paper. This is something you might want to know in case you ever need to go – . to Mexico. If you need to go, bring your own bathroom tissue. I think it would be a good idea if youth groups from America took all the toilet paper they waste vandalizing their youth pastor’s house and donated it to missions. There you would have young people making a contribution to international good will, …

In the “How Embarrassing” Category: Lawn Chairs. Some lawn chairs are better than others. On the way to speak at a camp a couple summers ago I tried out a beach chair. It wasn’t very high-quality. How do I know, you ask? I tested it. I set it down in the isle of the store and sat down on it. Immediately it collapsed on the floor. I decided I would keep looking for a chair of a little higher quality. They just …