Goofy Dad Stories (12): Stumped By Glass. A few years ago, the staff at Reality Ministries was invited to a beautifully restored old warehouse in downtown warehouse for a staff workshop. Red brick everywhere. Exposed wood beams. The interior decoration was stylish and creative, with lots of glass and exposed brick and rustic wood beams everywhere. …
New Work in Newark. A Memoir by Steve Larson, July 19, 2020. I was a freshman in college, 52 years ago, at Wheaton College in the spring of 1968. I was sitting in daily chapel, wondering what I was going to do for the summer. I was typical in many ways… I was broke, and …
The Bible and Me: Eleven Observations “I read my Bible often; I try to read it right. Least to my understandin’, it’s nothing but a burning light.” Blind Willie Johnson, What is the Soul of a Man. Scripture is in my bones. I received my first Bible as a Christmas gift from my mom and …
A Rabbi Looks at Faith and Justice. I have been drawn to social activism for most of my life, especially as I started to see things more widely in the world in college. I have focused on racial reconciliation, civil rights, and pro-life activities for the most part. Rabbi Heschel has meant a lot to …
Steve’s Morning Prayer. (Please read this slowly, meditatively, thoughtfully. Every phrase is rich and significant.) Open my lips, O Lord, And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (from Ps. 51). Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, Heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you for …
Homespun Truths. There are as many ways of raising families in the Lord as there are families. Like millions of others, we have a home that strives to be Christ-centered, that seeks to nurture the truth of the Christian faith in our children. But at the same time we celebrate many Jewish traditions in order …
Thorn Birds: Meditation. “No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.” (Joy to the World, Isaac Watts) Many years ago in Falls Church, Virginia, …
Goofy Dad Stories (11) – The Danger of Elastic Waistbands. This story goes way back, to when I was a mere lad of four. So, it’s ancient history, 64 years ago and counting. But it’s still funny. We were of course living in Rockford, Illinois. My parents had many friends from church, and often invited …
Goofy Dad Stories (10) – Food Blunders Note to Parents: Choose your battles wisely when raising your kids. Discover what is worth taking a stand, and let the rest go. Especially when it comes to food. Mealtime can be a battleground, and a parent has to think hard… Do I really want to wage this …
Goofy Dad Stories (9) – Splinters I Have Known While working through graduate school at Michigan State, I enjoyed a variety of jobs… liquor store manager at Sav-On Drugs, painter of apartments with the Christian Brothers Painting Company, gas station attendant at a Shell station, and a lineman for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. While being …
Goofy Dad Stories (8) – Adventures in Golf I have a somewhat spotty history with golf. I did not enjoy the game in the least. It’s too infuriating, tedious, expensive, and not even close to fun. My golfing highlights would include: The Golf Bag – I had a good friend in Texas who loved to …
Goofy Dad Stories (7) – The Cursed Car Top Carrier It all started with a family vacation, driving from Northern Virginia to Rockford, Illinois. We packed our car top carrier full of suitcases, loaded up the station wagon, and the six of us headed for the Great Midwest. I bungee’d that carrier to the roof …