A study of couples assembling IKEA furniture sought to find if their relationship would falter. Indeed, the task could put even the best relationships to the test. Enter the Harper DIY Gazebo. The kit contains hundreds of pieces with nothing more than a picture...
Recently my daughter-in-law was challenged by her sister during a time of grieving the loss of their dad. “Speak life.” It tested me, too. Especially during difficulties, it’s easy to see the bad and fall into self-pity. Lean into God’s word for an “attitude...
We’ve all heard “Be the hands and feet of Jesus.” Doing His work for His name’s sake. It’s almost cliché, but nonetheless important. But it occurs to me we could also be Jesus’ other body parts. What about His eyes and ears? Watching for opportunities to shine His...
Retirement Preview? Lois and I had an unexpected long weekend. Her sudden “dislocated hip incident” erased all our plans, so we spent time together at home, nursing her injury. Is this what retirement will look like? I had the opportunity to wait on her hand and foot,...
The generations have an odd relational dynamic. The younger tends to take a dismissive view of the older. The older often has a critical take on the younger. How many times have we rolled our eyes at something our parents said? How many times have we shaken our heads...
Top Ten Lessons Learned in Israel I was recently blessed with a trip to Israel! What an adventure! I think everyone should experience excursions into other cultures. It helps you appreciate what you have. But beyond the obvious gifts we enjoy, there are some more...
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KVNE The alarm goes off at about 3:50 am. Shower, get dressed, have breakfast, and coffee, and be at work before 5. The broadcast day begins. 5:00: I open the mic. Nothing too deep, just a faux drive-through reenactment. A wake-up call to say,...
Grab Hold of a Miracle! God is good, and guess what! He loves YOU! Yes, you! He created everything, He knows everything, and He wants to be with you! Amazing, right? Soak it up. Look around. We get excited about a natural phenomenon like a solar eclipse, or a...
Talk Text It wasn’t long ago we didn’t have talk text exclamation point Remember when we had to actually type text question mark I find myself talking that way even when not texting. It’s a weird world. What’s crazy are texts we allow ourselves to send without...
You Look Like Jesus Jonathan Roumie must get that a lot. The actor portraying Jesus in “The Chosen” is very effective in his role. But it’s more than his appearance. His manner is also quite convincing. He’s patient, he’s kind, he doesn’t envy, he doesn’t boast. You...
The Big Deal So what’s your deal? You may say, “Family,” or “Faith.” That’s good! Know this. When asked, we’re likely to respond with a big picture, widely accepted answer. But what would others say about you? If it’s not the same, maybe we should to re-evaluate our...
Choose The Chosen Study the Bible. Pray. Get wisdom. Watch TV. That’s right. Watch TV. We’re all doing it anyway. Just remember to watch good stuff, too. Many Christian shows are subpar. The Chosen is done so well. It takes Jesus’ story and brings it to life! I love...
Expressions When we go to church, it’s a good first step in showing our love for God. But the Bible instructs us to praise and worship Him. Here’s our opportunity! Praise is defined, “express warm approval or admiration.” Worship: “express reverence or adoration.”...
Identity Drama One of the best parts of knowing Jesus? It doesn’t require a user name and password. Living in the culture? Different story. I thought I was proof of my birth, but no. I need a user name. “Mike Harper?” Wrong! Not good enough. “You need a different...
Joy in ‘23! Easier said than done? Absolutely! Painful stuff happens. Some self imposed, some not. No one is immune. Yet, the Bible says rejoice. It says it again, rejoice! It says the joy of the Lord is our strength. It says today’s the day the Lord has made!...
Best Christmas When was your best Christmas? How do you measure it? We all wish each other a “merry” one. So, what makes it merry? What happens? Do you get everything you want? Not just stuff, but your plans and hopes. Did they fall through? Does that make it “less...
The “Undeserving” I saw a young man by the side of a busy Tyler intersection. Let’s call him Nate. He held a guitar and a sign saying “I Just Need A Little Help.” Maybe it was his first day on the curb, but he appeared anxious. He shifted his weight back and forth. He...
Thanksgiving Miracle Lois can do many things. But occasionally she needs help. Unfortunately, if it involves fixing anything, she’s married to an extremely limited man. So when I get an opportunity to squish a bug, lift something heavy, or pick up something from the...
Weather You Like It Or Not Everybody talks about the weather, a convenient go-to during a conversation lull. Schedules are affected by it. Moods change with it. Many love to complain about it. It’s an easy target. It’s too hot, too cold, too rainy, too dry. And what...
Not? Perhaps you’re in the middle of a quandary. An impasse. A calamity. If so, you may think, “Easy for you, Mr. Big Pants!” Understandable. First of all, I wear a 34 waist. Secondly, I have problems, too. I don’t share a lot of them because, like you, I can say...
It’d been a long couple of days. Lois had hip replacement surgery with stellar results. Doctors exclaimed, “Couldn’t have gone better!” The most important thing. Sure there were challenges. Long hours in the lobby. A lengthy overnight stay, complete with pokes, prods,...