What’s Wrong with the Tithe?

There’s a lot of confusion about tithing. If you go into most churches today, you’ll find that tithing, or giving 10 percent of your income, is what most pastors preach.  A survey several years ago among evangelical pastors found that a whopping 58 percent believed that tithing was not required by the bible; 42 percent believed that it was. In …

Saving Samantha—the Lost Legacy

We met her in a restaurant in St. Petersburg.  The weather was mild for February—just warm enough to eat dinner in the open air, if we had a heater nearby.  People-watching comes at a premium at these sidewalk tables. As we ate, Samantha caught our attention.  She bustled about from table to table.  She greeted us with youthful energy, took …

The Presidential Race and Compass Settings

The front and center news of the day continues to be the presidential race. On the surface, it appears to be a game as the candidates and the voting public sort out the ultimate nominees. Underneath that process, however, a values clash is taking place—a struggle between where we’ve come from and where we’re going. Old-line establishment candidates reflect a …

The Grocery Store Legacy

My sons bagged groceries at the local grocery store during high school.  The experience taught them to work with a variety of people in all different phases of life. As such, they’d come home and tell us their stories.  Once there was a guy that had 2 carts full of pop, or the lady that spent $985 on meat.  Crazy …

The Wave Maker

Some arrive as the sky first etches pink and blue Others make it a lunchtime break And some hustle here before going home Still others make it a lifestyle Waiting tables, scrounging tips at night To surf the day away Like frogmen they sit bobbing in the water Straddled astride fiberglass They wait Until the unseen force Pushes, heaves and …

Write a Letter to Your 80 Year Old Self

My son came home from college and told me about his gerontology class assignment.  Write a letter to your 80 year old self! Imagine that it’s your 80th birthday—what letter would you write?  What advice would you have?  What hobbies and interests would you have cultivated?  What subjects would you have mastered?  Who are your closest friends?  If you could …

What Sand Dollars Teach Me About Generosity

I had a recent stay at the beach.  This particular beach was famous for its sand dollars. At first, a quick walk on the beach showed the occasional sand dollar, but most were broken.  Not to be outdone, I watched and observed.  I knew that there were others who were coming away with stacks of the little treasures.  Their habits …