I was casting about during my hiatus between college engagements. I hadn’t flunked out of college, but I had been dangerously close to making it onto the not-so-good list of which the academic dean informs you in light of insufficient academic performance. I’ve previously shared the story of my real estate forray. One reason for…

I was tired and discouraged, ready to hang it up. At breakfast with three of my prayer partners I asked, “What’s the most difficult thing you’ve ever successfully accomplished?” I don’t remember their answers, but in the back of my mind I knew I wanted to get healthier, and that would involve doing something about…

Anyone who has been married for more than a few months will attest to the difficult challenges you must face and overcome if you are to remain married. That was true for Diane and me after only a few months of wedded life. We are both able to express our opinions clearly. We don’t always…

We sat and talked about life, marriage, and the challenges that go along with managing those two things. They had not been married very long, had a small child, and were struggling as many people do early in marriage. Add to that the challenges of life itself: new careers, challenges of a new job with…

“Della Heckmann, you are connected to God’s promises, and God’s promises will come true for you.” Pastor Jeff Doria named names that Sunday. He mentioned Della, Josh, Jim, and Sarah. These were dealing with issues of health, loneliness, cancer, and death. Each really needed God’s promises and the encouragement and comfort those promises can bring.…

“Don’t borrow trouble,” she said. She was a nurse at Arkansas Children’s hospital in Little Rock where our son had just been admitted. He was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tubes and wires found their way from his tiny body to machines that monitored more vital signs than I can recount. Those wires and…

“What is that in his mouth?!?” The doctor was looking at X-rays of our youngest son after he was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Earlier that afternoon Stephen had awakened from his nap to learn from my mother who was visiting us at the time that Diane and her friend had taken a walk.…

It wasn’t the first time I’ve been misjudged. It wouldn’t be the last. That night, however, was one of those times when I had it coming – even if I was being misjudged. I put myself in a bad position, intimidated an elderly couple, and even received a barely veiled threat that I could be…

The cold and rain swept down the street on that Tuesday night that we attended the prayer service at the Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York. Pastor Jim Cymbala welcomed us into his office and gave us an hour of his time. We talked about ministry, prayer, and even a little about Lutheran theology. He…

A dad brought his 10-year-old son to my office. “Tell Pastor Bahn what you did,” he said. The young boy was not overly-afraid as far as I could tell. I had tried to present a non-threatening demeanor. I’m not certain whether the father wanted that, or if perhaps he wanted to scare the bejeebers out…