CoffeeTime Articles
Fooled By What You See
Tom lived in Smallsville. Everybody knew each other, and they all knew each other’s routines and habits. Tom had grown up in that town, and all the citizens of Smallsville knew of Tom’s rough and reckless lifestyle since his teen years. But one day Tom finally...
Hammers, Tenacity, and Patience
A few months ago, we relocated to a completely different part of the state. Sold our house, packed up everything that wasn’t nailed down, and dumped our lives into another home in another city. Looks easy on paper. But if you have ever experienced transferring your...
Don’t Do That If It Hurts
Several years ago, Andy developed a “hitch-in-his-get-along” as his Mom used to call it. Back when he was playing racquetball on a regular basis, while competing in a heated game he had run full speed into the concrete sidewall with his shoulder. Weeks later, the pain...
My Spouse: Dense, Or Just Different?
We went for our daily walk together that evening, just like always. As we passed a neighbor’s home a few houses down from us, Renie remarked, “Hey, look, they are evidently redoing the flower bed there on the right side of the house.” To which Andy grunted a...
Above All, Don’t Let Daddy Down
As a kid, Andy was outdoors during much of the summer months. And not lying by the pool with a Coke in one hand and a fetch-it stick for his dog in the other. His dad started him at age nine to help in the family hay-hauling business. Working many times from “Can’t...
Coffee Cups Have Rims
That fateful morning I quickly poured my cup of coffee as soon as it was hot and ready. Been looking forward to it all the way to the office. Well, yes, I guess could have been a little too eager. And I guess I may have been a little distracted. Thankfully I looked...
My Bed Was Already On Fire
A book title, “It Was On Fire When I Laid Down On It” caught my eye a few years ago. Curiosity being what it is, I looked up the story behind that title. True story. A small local fire department was called to put out a house fire. They also found and rescued a man...
Laughter is Like Medicine
I can be sitting at my desk, deeply engrossed in thinking of a serious crisis the world is facing. My mind spiraling in never ending circles, like water going down a drain. And as I contemplate the seemingly unsolvable issue that has my attention, if I am not careful,...
The Cussin’ Pastor
He was so upset that fateful Sunday morning. The Ol’ Devil had been busy, creating heartache and emotional injury in his small East Texas town. So the young pastor had decided that it was time to preach against that wily serpent. High time somebody exposed who was...
A Story From 50 Years of Marriage
Some friends of ours tell this story from the earlier years of their marriage this way: We were living in South Texas temporarily, several hundred miles from our family and dear friends. While Doug worked long hours at a construction job there and had to be gone most...
Beware: Hellion Alert!
The preschool –aged boy suddenly screamed like Beelzebub himself was after him. Recently Andy was having a quiet lunch alone in a local restaurant in a small Oklahoma town. The place was pleasantly filled with patrons, all quietly talking with companions at their...
Just What Snakes Do
Do you remember the tale of the fellow who was walking down the road in front of his house one bitterly cold morning? He came across a small half-frozen poisonous snake lying beside the pavement. Calling out in a weak voice the reptile asked for help, “Please sir, I...
Sandlot Optimism
The stranger in the tiny town walked up to the sandlot baseball field to watch a group of loud and excited ragtag boys playing a pickup game of baseball. After a few minutes of listening to the crack of the bat, watching the ball sail over the heads of the...
Listening, Hearing, and Helping Each Other
Many years ago I was a very young and inexperienced pastor of a little church in a small town. I certainly meant well and was struggling to do my very best, but I was overwhelmed by church issues and circumstances. It seemed I just couldn’t get a handle on what to do...
My Daddy Takes Care of Me
Several years ago, while visiting with my little preschool granddaughter, I was going to give her some money. But then I decided use it as an opportunity to teach her about money values. So I handed her all the coin denominations, you know, penny, nickel, dime,...