It’s good to lament. Or maybe not. Who knows? Maybe we better back up and first ask “what does it mean to lament?” To answer that, let’s consult Got Questions, where they say: To lament is to express deep regret, grief, or sorrow. We can lament through words or...
Poems
POEM: Life Seasons Past… and Yet Ahead
I've long thought of life in the context of life seasons. Probably a throwback to The Outsiders and Robert Frost's Nothing Gold Can Stay. The other night, as I was sitting outdoors while effectively commemorating the end of Labor Day weekend. I observed my yard. It's...
Your Magnificent Chooser by John Ortberg – a Review
As a parent, I've always believed in the impact of reading to kids. Though my kids are getting older, I'm always looking for fun and engaging books that teach powerful, spiritual lessons without purely preaching. John Ortberg's new book, Your Magnificent Chooser...
Stop Making Excuses So You Can Wake Up and Finally Say Yes
What if you were to quit making excuses and said yes to God? It’s a simple question. And, it’s a question you might think doesn't apply to you. But let’s ask another question… how often has your desire for what could be been held in check because you won’t give up...
Thankfulness; A Poem by Frank Carleton Nelson
Thankfulness was written by Auburn, Indiana author, Frank Carleton Nelson and appeared in his 1927 compilation called Along Life’s Road . It’s the first of two poems by Nelson I am sharing this week. I first learned on FC Nelson when I was writing my book, Legendary...
Praylist: Next Thing You Know by Matthew West
The story within the song is sometimes laid all out with no need for reading between the lines for the listener. Matthew West’s “Next Thing You Know ” is one of them and in so doing, it provides a wonderful illustration of God’s work in our lives. In the first verse,...
We Are Not Rocks. We Are Not Islands.
When I wrote the poem, That Rock, I was drawing upon the two verses that appear below. They both offer a great foundation (pun intended) for how to live in continual recognition that I am nothing without the mercies and grace of God. And a man shall be . . . as the...
Poem: That Rock by Chad Gramling
One of my favorite verses of any book in the Bible is Isaiah 44:8 which reminds us that our one true source of stability and solid ground is our God the Father. He is the one stronghold to which we all cling. In 2007, I did a blog that I called "No Other Rock" in...
Poetry: Battlelines
"You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” ~2 Chronicles...







