I have to say one of the best parts of my childhood was being both a Cub and a Boy Scout.  Because I was a non-swimmer, I never quite made it to the top as an Eagle Scout, but many things I learned I still practice today.

“Be Prepared” is the scout motto. If you look in the back of my van you might conclude I’m prepared for most any contingency. I don’t need your help AAA or FEMA, I’ve got it covered.

In Cub Scouts it was nice to have my dad involved with me, although I’m not sure how much I actually did to build the 6 inch Pinewood Derby cars we raced down the track.

Through those years I learned how to tie knots the right way, shoot with a bow, target practice with a rifle, build a good campfire and then cook over it, safely use ...

The last day or two we have had a house guest, who makes our cat Angel quite nervous when he’s around. Meet Frankie.

He’s on loan from my step son while he and his friends are off to Great Wolf Lodge for some fun. Frankie is a pretty friendly and energetic little pup at 7 years old.

After letting him outside to hang out with our much older dog, Cocoa, it was soon apparent his talent was getting the nylon rope leash tangled around anything he comes near. I performed several “rescues” this morning. He was finally content to come inside for a nap.

I know I’m not the only one who appreciates the gift of joy that pets can place in our lives. My daughter Grace, who just celebrated her 18th birthday, was showing off several videos she found on YouTube of dogs & cats doing hysterical antics. We ...

Christmas is here, and I pray for God’s blessings upon you and your family. 

We know there are many who are missing a loved one this year, and I hope you’ll join with me to reach out with a hug and a prayer wherever we can.  Let us not forget the agony endured by a small town in Connecticut that is still reeling from the recent loss of life.

Jesus was born 2,000 years ago… with the purpose to die for our sins that one day we may live in an entirely different world.  There’s a song from Jeremy Camp that I’ve been thinking about:

There will be a day with no more tears
 No more pain, and no more fears
 There will be a day when the burdens of this place
 Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
 But until that day, we'll hold on to ...

I recently interviewed singer-songwriter Matthew West, and we conversed about his new release coming out next Tuesday “Into the Light.” You may have heard the first single on PRAISE 106.5 titled “Forgiveness.”   Matthew shared the song was based on a story sent to him by a mother of four named Rene. She lost her daughter Megan in a car accident; a victim of a 24 year old drunk driver named Eric.

Rene spent years after that traveling around to schools and speaking of the dangers of drunk driving. But she realized something was missing in her presentations. God put it on her heart she needed to forgive the young man who took the life of her daughter.

So, Rene did the impossible.

She reached out to Eric in prison, and his life was changed because she forgave him. He said “I can’t even forgive myself, and she forgave me.”  Eric ...

I grew up around Seattle and Renton, and since then I have had a good chunk of my life living in Thurston County in Lacey and Olympia. I guess I can say, with a certain degree of humility, I am an Olympian! But certainly, not an athlete. My only "medals" are from Boy Scouts, and those were cloth badges.

Maybe like you, my wife & I try to catch some of the Olympic highlights of the day from London. I'm not that curious on which country has the most medals, but much more interested in seeing the personal accomplishments.

We often watch in awe the skillful mastery these super athletes demonstrate in their chosen sport, like Olympic record holder swimmer Michael Phelps and gymnast Gabby Douglas.

It's pretty safe to say no one enters this competition accidentally. In fact, it takes a lot of qualities that we all should embrace ...