“What’s on tv ma?” or “What’s on tv dad?” is a common question in the evening at our house. If time allows in the evening we usually like to watch a tv show with the kids before bedtime. We typically have more time during the winter months when it is colder outside and we are not farming and calving. The content of tv has drastically changed over the years. The kind of tv shows that we watched growing up are different than what our kids watch today. The type of tv has also evolved from black and white tv to colored tv and from cable to smart tv. I have…

February’s theme is love. But, what does the Bible have to say about love? Turns out, quite a bit! The most common form of love discussed in the New Testament is agape love. Agape love represents the highest level of love and is everlasting and sacrificial in nature. It is most perfectly expressed in the life and death of Jesus. As 1 John 4:8 states, “…God is love.” Storge love or familial love is also expressed in the Bible. This type of love is characterized by a deep bond between people that results in caring for and about the welfare of the other. Jairus’s concern for his daughter or the…

I distinctly remember my generation’s addiction to the reality television show, The Real World. MTV first aired the show in May of 1992 and people were hooked. What was it that people loved so much about the show? The drama of course! It is one thing to take an hour or two of our day or week to enter the world of another person and enjoy some drama, it is quite another to live it daily with our coworkers! And, let’s face it, there is a lot of drama at work these days. People’s personal lives flow across work boundaries, power struggles between various individuals, secrets and gossip, and the…

Ash Wednesday: The first day of Lent remembered by prayer and fasting.

A quick look at the history of President’s Day.

Roses, chocolate, wine, gourmet meals, and romance galore. This is the picture of all the Valentine’s advertising we see. Restaurants try to lure us in with endless menu options, florists with rose specials that can’t be beat, and all other vendors marketing us new jewelry, wine baskets, and more. I have been happily married for over 23 years and with the love of my life for going on being together for almost 30 years. I have enjoyed a memorable Valentine’s Day at a local venue and received a big bouquet of flowers a time or two. However, I soon realized that for us it wasn’t the chocolate, nor the meal,…

On our trail to be intentional, we have felt at times that we needed to reinvent the wheel. We have been skewed on our thought process of what being intentional truly means. Our conversations around the planning table a year or so ago included conversations on making products that we would never use, writing on subject matter that we were not passionate about and more. Yes, we determined that we didn’t love to write about accounting software!! However, we also felt that we do need to step outside of the box to spend our time doing something more than working. Joy is found in new experiences, reliving and always creating…

Food is love. Well, not literally, but we all know the power of food as a way of expressing love. Most of us have positive memories around a certain food or connect a positive experience with the food that was served. My family has great traditions related to food. Christmas cookies must include Walnut Frosties and German Pepper Cookies (Pfefferneusse). Easter always includes ham in some form. The fourth of July has to have burgers and dogs. What’s amazing is that it’s really not about the food. Close your eyes a moment. Breathe in deeply. Think about the smell of an apple pie freshly baked or chocolate chip cookies cooling…

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 When we hear the word budget, most of us cringe and a dozen fearful thoughts run through our minds. It feels like you try to sit down and look in the crystal ball to see the future…which is impossible. Or you put your numbers on paper with prayers that all will go as planned. To our amazement having a budget actually helps us avoid disasters and be prepared. I have a great quote on the top of my budgeting book that says “financial freedom means that when your life crumbles around you, the…