Many of you may know that February is American Heart Month or Black History Month. But did you also know that its also National Dental Month or National Boost Your Self-Esteem month? Now as you learn about history you can feel good about your smile and heart.I heard on the radio yesterday that it was National Hot Chocolate day but was told by an elementary school student that that holiday was in…

“What makes the desert beautiful is that it hides, somewhere, a well.” – Antoine de Saint Exupery Often one has to look beyond what we see at first in order to see what is really important. One of my favorite children’s books is The Little Prince where characters are often asked to see beyond what is presented to them and to look with their heart. For example, what do you see in…

Everyone knows the first rule of youth ministry trips: “What happens on the trip, stays on the trip.” This is not only for the protection of the idiots, I mean um students, that do things that probably shouldn’t be shared publicly but it also creates a stronger bond between said students that went on the retreat together. That being said, I’d like to break the first rule of youth ministry trips by…

There are many reasons why you shouldn’t eat at McDonalds. First of all, its not very healthy. Secondly, its more expensive than making your own sandwich. I do like the fact that it is fast and convenient and that in general everyone in my family can find something they like. But aside from that, there’s not much benefit. But the most important reason for the Karafanda’s not to eat at McDonalds is…

I’m a numbers person. Most people get upset with the church because they think that clergy only want more numbers – people and money. And I’ll let you in on a little secret. We do. We want more people and more money. They are major factors in helping to transform the world – but that’s not all we want and that’s a blog for a different day. Todays blog is about the…

Pride is one of those things that confuses me. Biblically it sounds like a bad thing and I can see why if your pride is about yourself to the extent that you seem full of it. But sometimes I am so filled with pride for my kids, my churches, or my friends that I just want to explode with joy. And I don’t think that feeling pride by seeing God at work…