Bob's Blog

A few days ago, I pulled this blog up in my browser and looked at some of the posts I have written over the years. I noticed a trend. In 2009, I wrote 23 posts. From 2010 through 2012, I wrote 9, 4 and 1 respectively. Almost all of the posts in 2010 where written the first part of the year. The decline correlates to a particularly difficult time at work. Looking back, I can see that this experience bled over into all areas of my life. To be honest, I think it rocked my world more significantly than it should have. There have been many other challenges besides work. I wish I could say that I have passed all of the trials with flying colors. Not so much. But, I am starting to realize that they have come my way for a purpose. God is continuing to Father me. The past few years have revealed some areas in my heart that still need healing. But, I have felt more whole the last few weeks than I have felt in a long time. I am so grateful for God's unending love! And, for the...

A few years ago, as God was starting to wake me out of my slumber, I attended a "Men's Advance" in southern Indiana.  During that weekend, I had an experience that I believe has changed the course of my life.  If you were there and looking on, you would probably not have recognized it as a life changing moment.  To be honest, neither did I.  But, the number of times I have thought back on that event, as well as the number of times I have told the story, illustrates its significance. One sunny afternoon, many of the men gathered at the base of 3 telephone poles.  Those poles are pictured above.  The shorter pole has climbing pegs that reach to within 4 feet of the top of the pole.  The 2 taller poles have a trapeze-like bar hanging between them.  The goal of this challenge is to climb and stand on the top of the shorter pole and jump to the trapeze on the longer poles....

Today was one of those days that I found myself running from meeting to meeting.  Frantic scurrying from one building to another without even time between meetings to use the restroom.  My mind was occupied with all of the issues of the meeting I was coming from, while trying to transition to the issues of the meeting that I was heading towards. Since it takes a bit of time to make it from one building to the other, I decided to try to make a call while I speed walked.  I popped my bluetooth headset in my ear and used the voice activation feature to tell my phone who I wanted to call.  Seeking to verify my instruction it asked, "Did you say, call Cleo Taylor?" The question stopped me in my tracks.  I paused for a moment and sadly and slowly answered, "No." Cleo Taylor was my grandfather.  Apparently, his contact information has been transferred from one cell phone to the other as I have upgraded to newer phones.  Unfortunately, he has been dead f...

Wow! The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo . - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Last year my son and I took a trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. During that trip I wrote a journal entry that I later included in a blog entry called, "His Right Hand Shall Lead Me." In that note, I was commenting about how easy it was to feel God in the midst of the wilderness and silence. But, God promises that no matter where we find ourselves, He is there. Even though I know that is true, I am always encouraged when He reminds me. He often does so through nature. Like a cloud formation or a sunset that is particularly striking. Like tonight. These photos were taken tonight while on a walk with my wife in our neighborhood. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Well, it has been awhile. To be honest, I am not sure why. As everyone else, I have been busy and there have been a lot of changes over the past year. I also have a folder full of draft blogs. Yet, I never took the time to complete them. I think sometimes I get caught up in the pressure to say something important or full of impact. I think I just need to share what I believe God is speaking to me about. We learn from one another through our stories. I have found that men are not so good at letting other men into ours. Maybe that is what we should focus on. In any case, I plan to jump back in the saddle. Share a few thought from my story, my journal, etc. I would love to hear about yours as well. Please feel free to do so in the comments of this blog! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Our family just returned from a mission trip to Mexico. The theme of the trip was "The Aroma of Hope." I won't go into all of the nuances of the "aromas" to which the theme referred. Believe me, when you combine 100 degree heat with hard work and no running water, there were many, both good and bad. But, one of the "aromas" to which the theme referred was the aroma of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16. According to these verses, we are the aroma of Christ, the "fragrance of life." A couple of years ago, my uncle gave me a bottle of cologne that had belonged to my grandfather, who had died over 20 years earlier. When I opened the bottle and smelled the cologne, I was immediately transported into many memories of my grandfather. I did not just recall them. I felt like I was there. The fragrance awakened many memories that had either been long forgotten or muted by time. But, one sniff of this cologne made them all real again. As I recalled th...