Pray for our troops, particularly those in Afghanistan, where the insurgency has been hot recently, but also in Iraq and other places around the world. And pray for our enemies, as Jesus taught. Pray for protection and for justice and for mercy. Pray for hearts to be changed and freedoms to be protected. Pray for good to triumph over evil. “Thy will be done.”... Read more here

I recently met Marshele Waddell, wife of Navy SEAL Mark Waddell, who was an enlisted sailor for eight years before commissioning and retiring as a Navy Commander. She speaks openly and honestly about the challenges to marriage from PTSD and TBI, both of which have affected her husband from his multiple deployments to combat zones. She also speaks openly of her hope for lives affected by PTSD. You may want to check out her Web site at: www.hopeforthehomefront.com and see for yourself.... Read more here

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our freedom in the USA. What freedom do you appreciate the most?... Read more here

Amidst the hectic pace of our lives we must find ways to “recharge” for further service, similar to the way my electric razor needs recharging periodically (normally just as I am using it!). As nature around us needs time to recharge, or reconstruct, so we need this in our personal and family lives.
Just recently my wife and I took a few days away to conduct some military business, take care of some personal business, and take in a short conference. An added bonus was an unforeseen reunion with our youngest daughter who had just returned from a mission trip to Romania. What was planned as a four-day business trip ended up a recharge for us. The business was conducted swiftly and well. The conference went very well. The “down time” went very well (read: shopping for the women and book shops for me!).
Built into this time came an unexpected “Dad and Daughter Day” where we had so much fun taking care of her car, going to see “Toy Story 3” at a special theater that serves meals along with the movies, and ending up with an evening visit to one of our favorite places, Austin, Texas. A wonderful lakeside meal full of Texas hospitality was followed by a great coffee shop with incredible desserts that begged for our indulgence (we did … in moderation, of course!).
Even the hot Texas air didn’t bother me too much as we enjoyed our fresh-roasted coffee and desserts on a deck looking over the water with a soft jazz band playing nearby. Gentle conversation, an offer to snap a photo for a visiting Saudi Arabian family that led to a heart-warming conversation, and simply the time together left us incredibly refreshed, feeling we were away a week rather than just a few days.
And that’s why I bother to tell you about our little trip last week. We must take care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. How long has it been since you have taken a vacation? A mini-vacation? A day away? A few hours in the park?
The Bible has much to say about the value of a Sabbath rest … a concept lost to many of us in our modern world. While my purpose in this article is not to wax theological, it is to urge all of us to find the rest we need … and summer is a great time to do that for many of us.
Fall will be here soon along with the beginning of the school year, a refocus on business, and the rush of the holidays. Are you taking time to rest and restore?
If you don’t, you may respond somewhat like my electric razor when the demand exceeds the charge … it shuts down!
Make time to rest and restore! For everyone’s sake do it.... Read more here

I was able to be with one of our kids last week for a few days … a rare opportunity anymore! On Father’s Day all four of our kids spoke with me on the phone, and I heard the “Da Da” and “Ma Ma” from our infant grandson. What a privilege to be a father, to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support to others. While none of us fulfills this role perfectly, what a privilege to be a Dad!... Read more here