January 21, 2017
Distracted driving is a term that has become commonplace in modern society. States have enacted all sorts of rules and fines to reduce the occurrences of drivers focusing on activities other than driving. If you cross the Mighty Mississippi into Illinois, you need to put your phone down. Here in Iowa, if a police officer catches you texting and driving, you might receive a “you owe us” from the state. Even with all these safeguards in place, there are people who continue to drive distracted. Although the desire to save lives and prevent accidents is a noble cause, let me... View Article
January 5, 2017
I recently read a blog that caused me some pause as the writer suggested each Christian person will meet somewhere between sixty and eighty thousand people in their lifetime. The math is based on human contact with 2-3 different people per day over an 80-year lifespan. All of a sudden, the math makes sense. Now look at it this way. Jack Trice Stadium in Ames seats a little over 60,000 while Kinnick seats 70,000. At the end of a well-lived life, the people you’ve had interactions with will fill one of these venues. That includes the cashier at the convenience... View Article
December 18, 2016
It only happened one time and I remember it vividly. I was 9 years old and there was a present under the tree with my name on it. It didn’t feel or rattle like anything on my wish list. So I began to devise a scheme to figure out what was hidden behind the newspaper wrapping that my family used. It didn’t take long and I was able to talk one of my brothers into telling me what it was. The knowledge brought relief, but also a conundrum. How would I act surprised when I opened it even though I... View Article
December 9, 2016
Today, the political and media establishment will do a lot of soul searching, algorithm restructuring, and perfecting of their “we never saw this coming” apology. As I write this, many of us are basking in the glow of an unexpected political victory overnight, while the rest of us are fairly certain that the horror movies we used to watch have nothing on this nightmare. Regardless of what side of the political spectrum you’ve planted yourself, we realize that America will never be the same. Perhaps we could say, “America has left the building.” This thought causes some to celebrate the... View Article
December 8, 2016
Have you ever considered that almost any question about your family thanksgiving can be answered with “I ate too much”? Ask your coworker “How was your thanksgiving” and they usually reply, “I ate too much”. Ask “did you like the way Sandy prepared the turkey” and the answer is “I ate …” We all know that feeling though. You feel like you can’t eat another bite and suddenly grandma says, “Who wants a piece of pecan pie.” And like a moth drawn to the flame you agree to see how much more you can ingest before you have to give... View Article
December 4, 2016
There comes a time in each holiday season that we begin to dread the end of the festivities. A realization that our “holiday spirit” will have to be put away for another year along with the Thanksgiving China and the Christmas Tree. This usually happens after the turkey haze from Thanksgiving wears off. For some, it results in a resolution to fully embrace the Christmas season. Take a minute this week and enjoy this time of year. Sing the Christmas songs you hear on the radio and marvel at the smell of a Christmas tree. This season will be gone... View Article
November 20, 2016
If you’ve shopped in any retail stores lately, you’ve probably been perplexed by this holiday that might be titled “HalloThanksChristmasNewYear”. Some retailers try to give each holiday it’s own calendar and shelf space but others simply run them together. This can result in some unplanned issues as you shop for Thanksgiving supplies while listening to Christmas music. It’s not a wonder that the “Holiday Season” goes by so quickly. About the time you are geared up for one, the next one is here. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving with family, friends, shopping, and time off work. What’s not to celebrate!... View Article
January 14, 2015
“Brrrr” That’s the expression that’s on the mind as I look out on the wind-driven winter landscape sitting outside the windows of my office. The temp is a balmy -2 and the dreaded wind chill is 22 degrees south of that. I’m especially thankful for a well functioning heating system in the office and at the house today. I’m also grateful the school system decided it was better to give children the day off rather than require them to brave these elements. A local family afforded me the honor of remembering the life of their 48 year-old brother and friend... View Article
