[April 10, 2024] I was behind on the count at bat with two strikes and zero balls. It was also the bottom of the ninth inning, and my team was behind one run with my teammate at the hot corner, third base and potentially the tying run. On my Little League baseball team, we called this being in… Read More »
[April 7, 2024] I was recently asked to give a sermon to a church congregation near my home. This is one thing I’ve never done: give a religious sermon. What follows is my message, and although the following is in narrative form, I only used this as a notes. I think it is better to speak by looking… Read More »
[April 4, 2024] My boss, Mr. Amato – also called “Mr. A.” – ran his gasoline service station as if his life depended upon it, and in a way, it did because the livelihood of his wife and seven children stemmed from selling gasoline to customers. I was a new gas jockey at his station in my sophomore… Read More »
[April 1, 2024] Lightning arced across the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder. I found myself standing in a doorway to avoid a downpour, and I admit to being shaken a little. Many years ago, when I was a boy, an older man living down the street was someone all of us kids avoided; we were… Read More »
[March 31, 2024] Today is one of the most celebrated days in Christianity – Easter – and we honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolizing victory over sin and death. Yet, the attacks on Christians worldwide continue in both large and small ways. Today, March 31st, is celebrated by U.S. President Joe Biden as Transgender Day of Visibility. … Read More »
[March 30, 2024] As a young child, I was encouraged by my Dad to put money into the collection plate during church services. As a curious kid, I found the courage to ask Pastor John why. He told me something I’d never forget, “Douglas, there are people who need you, and they may not survive without your charity.” … Read More »
[March 29, 2024] Reading is one of life’s great pleasures, and we can certainly learn much from those many words on a page. I regularly read to both my children as they grew up. One of those books was Roald Dahl’s Matilda, and they just loved the twists and turns that Dahl introduced so well. My son, in… Read More »
[March 27, 2024] In 1967, when I was 15, an American rock band, “The Doors,” released the song Light My Fire. Ah, the nostalgia of it all. I first heard the song on the radio when my friend William and I were at his house, and his mom was out grocery shopping. Somehow, we were drawn to its… Read More »
[March 26, 2024] It was Sunday and Father’s Day. We were hurrying to get to the beach on Padre Island to have fun on such a glorious day. I want to express my gratitude to my father and grandfathers, who helped raise us kids and ensure we grew into responsible teenagers, rational thinkers, hard-working, God-fearing, and upstanding community… Read More »
[March 25, 2024] Alcohol is a clever drug. It gets into the brain and slowly changes what is good and free and beautiful into something evil, enslaved, and ugly. Why, then, do people use alcohol? If you use alcohol, the answer is obvious. Using alcohol is fun, socially encouraged, and exciting, and it makes us feel good. I… Read More »