Tis’ the Season of Despair and a Time for Waiting

Never before in my life, have I personally witnessed so much despair in the lives of so many people.  The economy has been depressed and depressing for five long years now.  It seems so many wonderful people are struggling on a daily basis to keep their head above water.  Most are struggling. Many are stumbling.  [...]

Thanksgiving Observations

                I’ve heard it said, “Be kind to everyone, for everyone is in a great battle.”  This year brings this ancient quote to mind for so many I love; so many I care about; so many that matter to me are in an uphill season of their journey. [...]

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For Gwen on the Eve of our Anniversary

It is said that behind every great man is a greater woman.  Though I claim no greatness, by my side for 32 years now has been this woman, named Gwen.  Our relationship began when Gwen announced at a Christmas party that she had just broken an engagement.  That was my clue to stand up; pursue [...]

The Church That Jesus Imagined

by Stephen W. Smith                     After 25 years of serving the church and now having 10 years under my belt of serving the church’s leaders across the world, I feel like I’m going to upset the apple cart and cause many people devoted to the work [...]

This Holy Place

Two Saturday’s ago, I was sitting in a beautiful day retreat with John Blase. It was a day of reading poetry and writing poetry. For some strange reason, I’ve been drawn to poems.  The brevity instead of prose makes me drawn to shorter expressions, brief insights into the world and into my soul.  For the [...]