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For Wilshire Baptist Church

During our recent joint birthday week, LeAnn and I visited a restaurant we rarely go to, but they’re known for steaks and that seemed like a good way to celebrate. When the server came to our table, we realized he had served us once before because he has the same name as our nephew. But we also realized it had been almost two years since our most recent visit because on that night they were having a benefit for that server and his family. His parents had died and two of his six siblings were seriously injured driving home from a camping trip. He had not been on the trip, and at 23 he had become the head of the family.

Continue reading “Joining the Club”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

Have you ever noticed how impossibly close ducks can fly just above the water without their wing tips touching the surface or their movement causing a ripple? I observed this and other feats of wonder early Sunday morning at White Rock Lake.

Continue reading “Sunday in the park with Ennio”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

Some dear friends gave us one of those smart speaker devices for Christmas, and I’ll have to admit it’s been fascinating getting to know it and learning how it operates. It’s also focused a bright light on what is real and what is not.

Ours is a smart clock with a Google interface. It’s not connected to any other devices or home systems such as lights or HVAC, so we use it mostly for its primary purpose — a clock and alarm. But we also ask it for weather forecasts and quick fun facts. Sometimes it comes back with perfect answers, and sometimes it says, “I’m not sure how to answer that but my team and I are working on that.” If we add a “please” to a request, it answers after first saying, “I like the way you asked that” or “I like hearing that magic word.” Sort of reminds me of my grandmother.

Continue reading “Get Real”