Lyfting Me Up

I remember years ago, there were a number of sad incidents involving children getting hold of medications or other potentially dangerous substances. I also remember nefarious actors creating havoc, as bad things were put into medication bottles or food sources to do harm to innocents. Soon the “Child Proof” bottles were showing up in all… Continue reading

My Uncle Paul who died last year at 98, once said to me, “Duct Tape is the greatest replacement for skill ever invented”. He then went on a litany of uses for it that proved his point. The best/worst example I ever saw of Duct Tape adapted to another function, was someone who did their… Continue reading

On New Year’s Eve morning my grandson Zach asked, “Hey grandpa, why don’t you go with me and Estrella (his dog) to the dog park”? It was a beautiful warm winter morning and I jumped at the invite. We live near three dog parks. The biggest is a couple of miles north of us. It’s… Continue reading

It’s a big word… and I love what it describes. Defined by Carl Jung—“A concept of meaningful coincidences where external events align with inner thoughts/feelings without a direct causal link”. This past week I was doing a lot of remembering those very special connections that are no longer living with me. At the top of… Continue reading

On Christmas break 1959, my parents signed me up for ski lessons at a Mom N’ Pop ski area north of Lake San Isabel called “Broden’s”. It consisted of a rope tow and about one half mile of a straight down hill slope. There I went all bundled up like Ralphie in the classic “A… Continue reading

You never know when generosity will strike. Today I had to take my once very familiar one hour, sixty-one mile, drive to Greeley. I was heading to a memorial service for a very fine man, Bill Rusher. I had known Bill since I was just out of the 6th grade. We met at my first… Continue reading

It is a common belief that it is “More Blessed to Give then to Receive”. I have found that it is also easier. Many years ago a very wise and insightful elder at the church I was serving in Pueblo said to me, “Mark, why are you so resistent to letting me give you a… Continue reading

Some of my stories write themselves. Others are more like trying to climb a Colorado “Fourteener”. This one in particular has taken two weeks to come together. It’s not an overly complicated narrative but it penetrates deep into one of the more painful and special journeys I have ever shared. Brad and I and about… Continue reading

I have a new roommate. “Estralla” has taken up residence at our home. We are part of the emerging demographic that welcomes 30–something young men into our basement (and his dog). Zach, our first grandson has become the third member of our household for the time being. It’s a win—win for all of us. He… Continue reading

In 1981 I became the Assistant Minister at Central Christian Church in Pueblo. Thus began another experience of doing something I said I would never do. I backed into ministry, sort of an experiment in looking for a loophole. People often ask me how did you choose to become a pastor? My simple answer is—… Continue reading