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The Gospel of Mark

In past years the Easter devotions were based on the Gospel of Luke. This year they are based on the Gospel of Mark. It’s a good source for short, simple devotions because the author wrote in a very direct manner.

The brevity of the writing lends itself to what I do well. Namely, make stuff up to fill in the blank spots! I will read a story in Mark and immediately have questions. The book leaves the reader begging for more detail.

Here’s an example. One passage that won’t be in the devotions is Mark 2:18-22. There are several …

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Keep Your Mouth Shut

A year ago the board of PathLight International asked me to step in as interim CEO. It’s been a fun year and we accomplished a lot, but it’s time to let someone with new energy lead. That’s why, and you heard it here first, PathLight is going to announce the hiring of Kris Canfield as the new Executive Director. I could not be happier — mostly because Kris is going to be great, but also because it’s time for new leadership.

There is a lot to say about Kris of course, but I’ll resist the temptation to list her …

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Mardi Gras

Tuesday is Mardi Gras so it’s your last chance to eat donuts without spiritual guilt. Um, sorta.

Either way, it means Lent is about to start. You might remember my Lent devotions from last year. They were fun to write, but honestly it was just too much work! So this year I’m shortening the series.

We will start March 20 and continue until Easter Sunday, April 9. Which seems like ages from now, doesn’t it? But when you write on a deadline it feels eerily close!

Like my other devotions, these Easter devotions will take us on a road trip. …

Generosity, Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt, Philanthropy, Uncategorized,

Generosity Toolbox

One of my goals for Junkyard Wisdom Rebuilt was to offer tangible ways to be generous. As one critic said about my first book, “It explains the why, but not the how.”

That was by design of course — explaining the “how” of generosity can quickly slip into becoming prescriptive. Suddenly it’s a “how to” book in a world awash with them. Even so, the critic had a point, and I wanted to address it with the new book.

But it wasn’t as easy as expected. Each one of us is in a different situation, and suggesting “how” to be …

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Israel & Egypt Trip

If we’re friends on Facebook, you probably saw a few pictures from our Israel & Egypt trip. Here are a few more for your amusement. It doesn’t even begin to show all the places we saw and things we did. But I don’t want to be one of those people who make their friends look at every travel picture!

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Junkyard Wisdom Book, So you think you're a writer?, Uncategorized,

#1 New Release!

Okay, so I’m officially bewildered. When I started writing a book I kept wondering who would actually buy it. Sure, I knew friends and family would. And I could give a lot away as gifts for people who support the nonprofits I love.

But I never expected to be the #1 new release on Amazon! And there it is. Junkyard Wisdom, my little side project meant to be self-published, is the #1 new release in Christian Stewardship on Amazon.

Of course this might just mean 12 people ordered it on a slow day when other books sold 11! …

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God is in the Manger

It’s a little late for you to start the Dietrich Bonhoeffer inspired book God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas this year, but I highly recommend it for next year. We all know how the Christmas season flies by and we are hyper busy getting everything done, and we all know we shouldn’t let that happen. But it still does, year after year, and we find it hard to focus on Christ in the manger.

Leave it to the collected writings of a brilliant martyr to bring us back to the real reason for the season. The …

Junkyard Management, Random Thoughts, The SOLD Project, Uncategorized,

How Did Jesus Handle Change?

I first met Ken Wytsma in Northern Thailand as we traveled with The SOLD Project. We quickly became friends and he has recently agreed to join the SOLD Board of Directors. Ken is the founder of The Justice Conference, the President of Kilns College, and is the lead pastor of the church he planted in Antioch, Oregon. And that’s just for starters. Like me, he doesn’t know how to do just one thing at a time. That’s probably why we quickly became friends.

Ken headshot I’ve always enjoyed Ken’s writing (check out his book Pursuing Justice) and recently …