My heart rate went from a cool 70 to a hummingbird-style 130 in a split second. It was a genuine "Holy blankety-blank" moment. I immediately went into crisis mode: "Father, forgive me, for I have clearly sinned... and I’m an idiot." I audibly thanked God the Father and His Son for keeping me safe from that Ford F-350, which was doing a solid 45 mph in a 30-mph zone.

I am thankful for a body that is tired because it has been used for good work. I am thankful for a home that is quiet because the celebration was full. And I am thankful for the "forced" rest that comes when you’re covered in fur and snoring dogs.

How can I not thank God on a day like today? If not for Christ, I don’t know where I’d be. Perhaps lying in a gutter, or worse yet, dead in my sins and on the way to everlasting darkness. Instead, I can ....

Good Friday. I’ll be honest—sometimes it is hard for me to think of Jesus’ suffering and execution as being "good." Yet, it was. Not for Him, perhaps, but for every person who puts their hope, faith, and trust in Him. For us, Good Friday was a beautiful day, because on that day, we were forgiven, healed, and redeemed.

On that fateful Thursday evening, motivated by pure love, Jesus didn’t run when He was accosted, chained, and dragged away. For love, He endured the beating, the mockery, and the humility of being nailed to a tree. He hung there for six hours, taking onto Himself every one of our sins. He did that for love.

Okay, that part giving my heart a bit of pause, I figured I should probably try to reach Microsoft again. Well, I did, and, “Father forgive me, for I have sinned.” Where’s the Terminator to go all Arnold on Microsoft’s AI center when you need him? You can use your imagination how well THAT went. Anyway, tonight I’m UBER THANKFUL for real people, the true-blooded hooman agents who provide heartfelt customer service.

Fill in the blank. You know it’s spring when ______________________________. I suppose you could answer with any number of things—mostly involving pollen or hay fever. I’ll fill in the blank for you in a bit, once we get to that part of the story. 😊

I'm just really thankful for a nice day. It wasn't high-octane or exciting, just a solid Sunday where we didn't have to go anywhere after church. Sometimes, that’s the biggest miracle of all. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful Palm Sunday!

In a world that is constantly "eventful" in the most exhausting ways, I will gladly take a long, tiring, "uneventful" day of family, haircuts, and miles. Tonight’s Thanksliving thought is simple: I’m grateful for the health of our parents, the resilience of our vehicle, the patience of a good neighbor, and the fact that we are home safe.

This evening was just one of those nights when I wished I’d had my camera gear in the car. The only problem would have been that we’d never have gotten home, and the dogs would’ve been doing the potty dance. Because when you’re chasing the light, you’ll stay out for as long as the light allows, and time—well, what’s that?

Now, for you non-Minnesotans, a bit of education is required. In the south-central suburbs of our Canadian neighbors, we have a very specific vocabulary. A “hot dish” is ....

For Lutherans, gathering together for Lent is basically the Holy Grail of community. Nothing says "Lutheran + Lent" better than soup suppers.

For those who might want to argue that God doesn’t have a sense of humor, I’d contend otherwise. I mean, have you ever considered the average human male over the age of 50?

I’m thankful for those brief windows where I can actually manage to quiet the noise, and I’m thankful for a God who meets me in the stillness—even when I have to fight my own brain just to get there.

Today, I’m not looking for a hidden blessing. I’m thanking God for the one perched right on the bridge of my nose....

365 DAYS OF THANKSLIVING — DAY 103 Let’s be real: I’m not exactly known for holding my tongue, and today there is absolutely no masking what I’m thankful for. Simply stated, it’s our God-given right to speak freely. Now, I know some folks love to split hairs and argue that it’s a legal right, not a "God-given" one. Maybe that’s a debate for a different day, but here’s what I know: regardless of what any government says, our tongues are like swords we’ve been given the power

One shoe. She was eternally grateful for half a pair. Meanwhile, I’m standing in my closet having an existential crisis...

That’s when it finally hit me: the effects of daylight savings time were working in our favor...

When I pray the Lord’s Prayer, I often think of this home as part of my daily bread. Sure, our daily bread is the food God gives; but doesn’t the provision include our home?

Sometimes God’s Word smacks us upside the head like a two-ton truck, and other times, He speaks with a still, small voice.