Opinion

Mark 1:28 tells us, “And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region about Galilee.” Mark wants us to know Jesus was famous — I like that.

I recently had lunch with a dear friend who I hadn’t seen in a while. As we caught up on all the tidbits that make up our lives, she asked if I was still writing this article each week. In the course of that conversation, I realized I’ve been writing this column for… wait for it… 17 years. As in, almost two decades. And the realization both thrilled and depressed me.

Editorial cartoon

I taught on the Parable of the Sower on Sunday (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). Not only do we find the unbelieving world hard hearted, superficial and worldly but sometimes we have to raise our hands and say, “Me too.”

The young teacher stood in the empty hallway and listened carefully. You could hear a pin drop. There was no sound except perhaps an occasional printer or a phone going off.

Editorial cartoon

My business is a serious one. It really is a matter of life and death. Being a Christian is kind of like being pregnant. What I mean to say is you either are or you aren’t.

We’re on a much-needed vacation this week, basking in Colorado’s cooler temperatures. We spent a half day on horseback, for which my backside is still screaming.

I steer clear of the news. It is depressing, inaccurate and a façade of tales to be deciphered. Social media is almost as bad. They only report what they want you to hear.

I don’t know if it was young and stupid or old and senile, but I used to know a lot more than I know now. I was smart, a bit arrogant and smug in my younger days. I’ve changed a lot since then. I’ve learned a great deal in the process and concluded that I’m not as smart as I thought I was.