At 10:00 AM sharp, we got the show on the road. We prayed. We sang two hymns. I preached a dynamic, moving message. Twenty minutes later, we sang another hymn, and I moved behind the altar to bless the elements and lead Holy Communion. For the next five minutes, my assistant and I walked around the chapel distributing communion to the residents—all the while, totally clueless, I was air-conditioning my frontside.

Anywho, being up there in the middle of nowhere under the pitch-black of night reminds me of Solomon’s words. Alls I can say is thank goodness for headlamps for the forehead, flashlights, and headlights on our cars—‘cause it was so dark up there I couldn’t see the front of my nose… almost.

God always knows exactly what we need; not just sometimes, but all the time. My body, mind, and yes, even my soul desperately needed that rest, and God—along with my family—gave me the space and time to get exactly what I required. For that, I am tremendously grateful.

Ultimately, I am so incredibly thankful for the peace of mind, heart, and soul I felt last night under that canopy of stars. I’m thankful God got me home in one piece, and I’m thankful for the deep rest He provided after that white-knuckle drive.

Curt’s call to ask if I could preside over the man’s burial was a kind gesture. He could have called any minister in the area, but he reached out to me. He didn’t know if I’d be available on a Saturday, or even if I’d be willing to help. But as I thought about it, who was I to say no?

From the speakers to my ears, my soul was weighing the dark depravity of the human heart. Yet with my eyes, I was witnessing the magic of light highlighting the beauty of God’s visible creation. In that moment, all I could think of was our wondrous Lord who, when darkness covered the earth, shone the light of His Son to redeem that which was doomed to be lost.

Today’s post might as well be a sequel to yesterday’s pre-adventure teaser. Well, 24 hours later, I can tell ya in post: the day did not disappoint—and neither did the kids, nor the Lord. Let me break down the play-by-play of why I am profoundly grateful to God for the whole glorious, exhausting experience.

For this aging pastor, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve taken a road trip with the next generation—especially when the kiddos aren’t my own legal responsibility, ya know? So… pray for us. Seriously, pray for them (halakha), and remember to be thankful too. Today is a day to plant seeds, guide, and prove to these kids that even us old farts can still have a bit of fun.

It seems like just yesterday she was that tiny toddler demanding everyone’s attention. And then, just like that, she was in high school, then college, then sailing the oceans blue (just like her dad before her), and finally getting hitched and having babies of her own. That little girl in pigtails, our firstborn... how can she be 32?

When I found her room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Now, I didn’t know Gramma Ginny from Eve, and having been taught basic manners, I knocked on the door instead of barging right in like I owned the place. Then I heard it: “Hello. Come on in.”

Christendom, for many Westerners, is an individualistic religion, but I’m not sure it was ever meant to be practiced in isolation. Yet, this morning, as I gazed out onto our congregation—even amid the early summer months when attendance across the hemisphere takes a dive—I greeted many friends whose faces regularly appear on Sundays....

All summer long, I’d make the drive down to Austin from the Twin Cities to spend some time with my grandma, but really, to go hang out at East Side Park with my girl. I was infatuated, and somehow, I knew she was the one for me. Well, six years later in that very same month we met, we said “ I do, till death do us part.” That was thirty-four years ago today, and it’s gone by like a flash.

Thank you, Lord, for causing my mom’s soul to just light up today by orchestrating that bump in with her friend. And thank you for reminding her that life won’t end if she has to move into a new living arrangement, but just might be a new glorious chapter for my folks.

What else can ya do when life hands ya lemons but make a pitcher of lemonade? That’s exactly what my wife did, and I commend her for it. Honestly, as frustrating as the whole ordeal was, it gave us a good bunch of laughs.

Anyway, the nice thing about all those country roads is they serve as a reminder: there’s more than one way to get to where you wanna go. And ya know, that rings true with many things… perhaps all but one, I say.

Whoever the mad scientist was who cooked up this fly killer, I’d like to shake his hand. I'm not entirely sure I want to thank God for the flies. Why He invented—excuse me, created—them is beyond my paygrade. I know the drill: frogs eat flies, other creatures eat frogs, and the food chain keeps turning. Flies also feast on dead flesh and aid in the decaying process. That doesn't change the fact that they are downright disgusting. Blech! Should I be thanking God for the flies

Howdy, howdy, blog fans. Welcome to the flip-side; the B-Side; the sophomore slump track. Or are we at the literal median on the continuum? With 182 days behind us, and another 182 ahead, perhaps today officially marks the dead-center of our deep dive into all things thankful living. Or maybe it doesn't. IDK... I can’t math, so don't quote me on the arithmetic.

Being that it was still nice and cool halfway through the day, I just kept the windows open, and that’s when I smelled it: that crisp, clean rain—nature’s air freshener that just invigorated the whole house. Methinks I’ll just keep them open throughout the night, leading into Day No. 183. And that brings me to the OG reason for this post—well, after the rain, that is. Check out the blog post number. Today is No. 182

Those phone calls, those drop-ins, those dinners and lunches with family—sometimes they might seem like small things we take for granted. But in reality, they're huge things, aren’t they? That small thing of talking with Mom and Dad—today, that’s what I’m thanking the good Lord for.

On this 29th of May, I have much to be thankful for: the peace and quiet while enjoying a meal, the beauty of this world, and the miracle of life. To God be the glory forever and ever.