Skip to content ↓

While The Cat’s Away II…

If you missed it yesterday, my wife is at a women’s retreat for the weekend, leaving me to look after the kids. Of course I am perfectly capable of doing so, but find it does alter my life quite radically. I also tend to overlook certain details…

Number of doses of medication Abby was supposed to have: 7. Number she actually did have: 3.

Number of hours I usually spend reading on a weekend: 4+. Number this weekend: 0.00.

Number of hours I usually spend writing on a weekend: 2+. Number this weekend: 0.25.

Number of hours I usually spend doing only whatever I want on a weekend: 4. Number this weekend: 0.00.

However, I certainly do not mean to complain. I am thrilled to be able to give Aileen a weekend away so she can rest, relax and spend time growing in the Lord. I has been fun for me to spend more time than usual with the kids. I must say, it has given me a deeper appreciation for the struggles single parents face.

Aileen returns home tonight and tomorrow life goes back to normal. Let’s hear it for routine!


  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 14)

    A La Carte: Distorted doctrine destroys lives / Making sense of bad things / Be the Jonathan / A bridegroom of blood / Administrative sludge / Musical elements / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Prayer

    Spread Too Thin

    With so much to do, we can easily begin to wonder whether prayer is an appropriate use of scarce time. Wouldn’t it be better to give my attention to something that would let me cross something off my to-do list?

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (July 12)

    A La Carte: Where art thou Rob Bell? / The case against in vitro fertilization / Praying and weeping for those suffering in Texas / Greet each other with a holy hug / The example of Jimmy Swaggart / and more.

  • Thriving Marriage

    Thriving Marriage

    I have often wondered about the best time to write a book about marriage. When a couple is young, there is so much about marriage they have not yet experienced. They can still impart wisdom and teach lessons, of course, but there is so much of marriage that remains unknown to them. Yet when a…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 11)

    A La Carte: Falling out of repentance / Tattoos as confession / The Epstein List and secret sins / Teaching generosity / Lessons from a former youth pastor / Bedbugs in the bowels of the city.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 10)

    A La Carte: Questions for a maturing marriage / The lesbian seagulls that weren’t / But mommy, why? / A time to be tired / The modern rise of Stoicism / and more.