For those of you who know me, or have been reading my writing for a while, it is no secret that I admire the cooking and wisdom of Alex Guarnaschelli. In an interview, with Robert Stolank of the New York Times, she discussed her relationship with her husband Brandon Clark and told a story in only a way Alex could tell it. Stolank reported, As they were closing up one evening he confided in her about a problem he had with a school assignment on potato-crusted black sea bass. He was galvanized…

What is compassion? When I was in seminary, one of my professors introduced me to a book called The Quality Of Characteristics. The author Ruth Gendler, describes compassion in the following manner. Compassion wears Saturn’s rings on the fingers of her left hand. She is intimate with the life force. She understands the meaning of sacrifice. She is not afraid to die. There is nothing you cannot tell her. Compassion speaks with a slight accent. She was a vulnerable child, miserable in school,…

Is there something in your life that you've been trying to do but just haven't been able to get it done? Like losing those few extra pounds but just can't? Exercising more but it's not happening? Starting your own business but not getting it off the ground? Doing that new hobby but not making the time? Maybe it's time for an accountability buddy!



Accountability partners can be near or far. They can be friends or acquaintances. They can be for work, exercise, diet, fun—anything you…

This is a test post and this is my personal website

We in the West seem to have a love/hate relationship with sleep. We always talk about wanting more sleep. Many deal with chronic fatigue, yet we cram more and more things into our schedule robbing precious minutes or hours from our sleep time. . .There's a lack of trust deep within us that tells us we must be in control of our time. It borders on the neurotic. . .We know that sleep is important to your physical well-being. Studies show that lack of sleep (8 - 9 hours is optimal for adults)…

I am amazed at the number of people who confide in me that their fear of speaking at a lectern or even at the head of a boardroom table is jeopardizing their career advancement. This is so unfortunate because their fear is control of them instead of the other way around.

Everyone is nervous in public speaking –…

When does relationship occur? How would you describe your dance with the dream of the planet? Don Miguel Ruiz asked viewers to think about these questions. At one point in my life, I would have said it was when I began speaking to someone. However, over the course of my life I have come to realize I am in relationship with people with whom I have never spoken. Every time I post something I have written, whether it is from my personal journal, something I am working on for my book, or…

Generally, a gallbladder surgery is performed when there are severe complications caused by gallbladder or gallstones inflammation. When you have to sign up consent for the surgery, make sure there is cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) written somewhere. The most preferred choice is the so called laparoscopy. This procedure is performed with a laparoscope and it leaves almost no scars because the incisions for this type of…

Today, I'm here to admit that I fell of the health wagon back at the end of September. I don't quite know how it happened. But…

By now, it should be no surprise to anyone that one of my favorite shows on television is Chopped. It used to be Iron Chef America, but it was replaced by Chopped for a number of reasons. One of the reasons I am addicted to this show is that I love the creativity of these chefs who are just everyday people like me who come with their stories about how food changed their lives, how it has crafted their souls, and how you can learn about them by how they honor or dishonor an ingredient. There…

Death is an inevitable conclusion to life. We all die. Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. You can make this time easier on your family and friends by giving them one final gift—your wishes for when you die.



I know it's not an easy subject to discuss. You may even feel uncomfortable reading this blog. I thought twice about writing the blog because I know that many people do not feel comfortable discussing death. I feel strongly that it is a topic that needs to be more openly…

The US has about 5% of the world’s population but uses 25% of the world’s energy.

If the rest of the world ate as much food or used as much energy and natural resources as Americans do, we would need…

2 planets….

...to sustain life.

How can you lower your carbon footprint with eco-friendly eating habits?

Check out this video to learn how!…

This week, October 21-27, is celebrated by many health care organizations as pastoral care/spiritual care week. It is a time when these organizations take time to give thanks for those who assist so many in their journey towards spiritual well-being. For some, this journey towards spiritual well-being is associated with a specific religion, but for others it is not. Spiritual well being is a journey of learning about one’s self, one’s values, one’s beliefs, purpose, and meaning in life.…

One of my homework questions was how did you feel when you heard don Miguel Ruiz say, “You are born alone, you grow up alone and you will die alone”? I am not sure how to describe what I was feeling. There is a part of me that was like ok, am I supposed to feel surprised, upset, or scared. The part of that sentence that scared me the most was that I might die alone. Then I was like ok, so what. I am never alone. The Infinite is always with me, so even when there is not another human being…

Cimex lectularius are typically pesky insects of mild areas which usually invade furniture and consumes blood. Therefore, they're often called bedbugs. Bed bugs could be defined little wingless pests, they really are nocturnal and additionally feast upon the blood of warm blood pets along with men and women. Most of these pesky insects as opposed to fleas and other insects, mosquitoes, ticks, and many others, usually do not bring or exchange any contagious health problem. Their particular…

Recently, someone told me they were surprised that I had a sense of humor. Hmm. I guess they have not been around me very much. There are times in my life I am quite serious and intellectual. Then there are times in my life I am just “downright stupid.” There have been those days when I wake up singing a children’s song like If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands or I love pumpernickel, pumpernickel bread. Those years of listening to Barney songs are embedded deep in my memory. When…

Asking for what you need is probably the most underutilized tool for people. And yet, amazing requests have been granted to people simply because they've asked for it!  Whether its money, information, support, assistance, or time, most people are afraid to ask for what they need in order to make their dreams come…

Obesity is a growing global epidemic.   Weight loss is the hot topic as every new support group claims to have the answer.  Despite the advances in medical science, increase awareness of diet and exercise,  people are getting fatter almost everywhere in the world.

The World Health Organization predicts there will be…

What a great privilege it is to have a local health food store. And with Thanksgiving approaching, I must add this to my list of what I am thankful for. It's not one of the larger chains that many shop at. But I like our local store. It's small, easy to navigate and stocked with organic fruits and vegetables, freshly baked organic breads, healthy frozen foods, pet food, vitamins, natural beauty products and bins of various organic grains. love to talk to those employees in my local health…

The other day I was sharing with my students how there is a song, which has kept me focused during a challenge, is Miley Cyrus’s song, The Climb. In the song, she talks about how it is not about the mountain, but about the climb. When I was pastoring, I once talked about some of the spiritual lessons I had learned from the one time I mountain climbed. It has been decades since I climbed a mountain, but the memory of doing so has been helpful to me. See for me, my spiritual journey is like…