The news of the recent collapse of an old overpass bridge onto I-75 in Cincinnati, Ohio hit me on more than one level. For one, I grew up two hours north of Cincinnati and had driven that stretch of road on many occasions, including the winter I had a college internship at the Cincinnati Enquirer.…
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I received a call last week from an associate I hadn’t talked with for years. She wanted to congratulate me on my recent story in Christianity Today about buying bestsellers. She was particularly impressed that the story seemed so balanced and didn’t take sides in the issue that became significant last year. The spark came…
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Filming begins next week on 90 Minutes in Heaven. It is based on the book whose first printing of 5,000 copies later surpassed five million in sales—the living definition of “unexpected best seller.” I have a personal connection with the book. I was one of the first to interview Don Piper about his experience for…
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In what is surely a sign of the times, rather than a Christmas card in mid-December, at year’s end I received an e-mail from an old friend. His wife passed away last April, and she likely handled the mailing duties. He mentioned compiling a list last fall of 80 things he wanted to accomplish before…
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Like much of the nation, the flu has struck numerous people in my immediate circles. That prompted the postponement of a family birthday party a week, and a similar delay for another get-together for a game night. Both delays occurred the same week a story appeared in our local newspaper about the wave of flu…
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Even though we have stepped into winter, I can’t help reflecting on how much I enjoyed last spring’s weather after the horrendous cold and snow of 2013-14. On several occasions we awoke to minus zero conditions outside and chilly temperatures inside. Our beleaguered heat pump simply couldn’t keep the house warm enough. To add insult…
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Since the boxes were inspected, packaged and sent on their way right after Thanksgiving, it is much too late to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Yet for those who believe in looking ahead, I heartily recommend getting planning to get involved in this effort next year. I had written a couple stories in the past…
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I recently switched to a different way of covering my health care costs where I am responsible for all doctor and other medical facility visits that total less than $500. If any one incident goes over that amount, I am covered, but the minor stuff doesn’t even count towards that deductible. Naturally, asking about cash…
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The connections between Pastor Rick Warren and me are thin as a reed. We have never met and—considering his schedule—aren’t likely to in the future. Yet a few links exist, starting with me writing a couple stories for the Purpose Driven web site, back when his mega-bestseller had created a mini-publishing boom at Saddleback Church.…
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Among the many reasons I will be pleased to visit my wife’s sister on Thanksgiving is the common bond we share of having walked the road to Emmaus. The Walk to Emmaus® is often described as a spiritual retreat, yet is so much more. It is a worldwide movement aimed at strengthening the local church…
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