I recently had a phone call with friend. She called to gain some knowledge about a property located near her. We discussed the pros and cons of the potential purchase. We had met for coffee last year to discuss Christianity. She had questions and was seeking answers. We were raised in Christian …
Why Theology?
One of my goals while attending seminary was to study theology, a word derived from the Greek word theologia (theos means ‘God’ and logos means ‘speech’). Theology is a language or discourse about God. It is faith seeking understanding. Theology has a unique vocabulary which must be understood …
Working Longer
80-points. These were joyful, magical words when I worked. “Do you have your 80-points?” “How many years until you get your 80-points?” Retirement with full benefits was reached at 80-points: the sum of your age and the years of employment. Health benefits and a defined benefit pension were secured …
Embracing Time Limits (Part III)
I traveled to Israel recently with a joint Jewish-Christian group composed of seminary students, pastors, church and synagogue members, and their families. One of my most memorable moments was celebrating Sabbath led by our Rabbi. As the sun was setting on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, we recited …
Embracing Time Limits (Part II)
In early 1991, I transferred to Shell Trading’s Houston office as the northeast gasoline trader. I noticed that many of the energy traders were carrying a small daily planner. Each page contained the same daily layout: a to-do list, appointment calendar, and note taking area. The notebook was filled …
Embracing Time Limits (Part I)
I was cruising the sunny Caribbean this week. The outdoor temperatures ranged from the low 70s to the low 80s. The mornings and evenings were perfect for outdoor dining. Even when the sun was most intense, one could retreat to a shady spot and be cooled by a sea breeze. This was my second Caribbean …
Old Age
This year, I changed from my employer’s health insurance to Medicare. For most of my life, I paid Medicare taxes out of my salary. Now I receive Medicare health insurance until I die. I also pay for supplemental health insurance provided by my employer. Because of my retirement income, the …
Family Advantage
Three months after retiring from a long career, I started seminary as a full-time student. I was required to attend first-year student orientation. Frankly, I really did not want to participate in orientation. I was in my mid-fifties and had not been inside a university classroom in almost thirty …
Immigrants
In 2004, my wife and I accepted new assignments in The Hague (Den Haag per the locals), the capital of The Netherlands. We worked there for two years, then repatriated back to the United States. We did not speak Dutch, but the Netherlanders spoke fluent English and the office language was English. …
Church Buildings
In late 1981, I transferred from my first professional assignment in Los Angeles to Kingwood, a planned community located northeast of downtown Houston. Friendswood Development Company (FDC), a subsidiary of Exxon Corporation, developed Exxon’s extensive fee acreage into an award-winning residential …