Do you know how they slice pizza in Sweden? They slice it with a pair of scissors! No kidding! They use scissors to cut pizza!

Different people have different ideas and ways of solving problems, and sometimes we get all bent out of shape when somebody comes up with a different solution to a problem than the one that we are used to, and we just shut them down.

We are all still working on being good citizens and faithful people, and not only is it ok if we come from different angles, but it’s also actually a good thing.

We all have faked it at one time or another to make ourselves look good.

The only problem is that we can’t keep it up for long – sooner or later, we will either get found out or get so wrapped up in our own deception that we lose track of who we truly are.

In life, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing, and for you and me, that is to remember that our identity is in being a child of God. We don’t have to fake that. And nobody can ever take that away from us.

Here it is, Holy Week.

So many things happened during Holy Week. It's hard to take it all in. But I think the biggest thing to know is that just as Jesus forgave the soldiers who put him on the cross and the crowds shouting “crucify him,” he forgives you and me today.

Don't run straight to Easter through this week. This Holy Week, listen to the incredible witness of God's love for you.

I’ve been thinking about words and how they can change over time. Like when “busyness” morphed into “business.” Is it when we got so busy that our busyness became a thing to be honored and respected?

We are so busy with business that we often forget to take time to enjoy creation, to breathe in the breath of God, and to care for our bodies and minds and our spirit.

Maybe plan some quiet time with God and maybe then we don’t have to let busyness become our daily business.

I asked a friend how her day was going she said it was just one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. Yet, she was pleasant at work. She told the story of her day like it was a funny story. Why?

Because we all get to choose our attitude. It doesn’t depend on circumstances – no matter what happens, you get to choose your attitude for the day.

Every week I go to lunch with the same guys, and the other day we go to a restaurant to meet and pray. Now I knew that the food that I was going to be eating had the potential to be messy. So I tucked my necktie into my shirt so I wouldn't get anything on it. Well, about three bites into the meal, I spilled food right where the buttons are on my shirt. I luckily was able to hide the spot with my tie once the lunch was over, but I was subconscious about it the rest of the day.

How often do we hide the spots in our lives? We try to put up a good front; we don't want anybody to know about the silly or stupid, or wrong things we have done. We try to cover them up so that no one will know.

It turns out that there will always be people who are better off than you. On the other hand, there will always be people who are worse off than you.

Many years ago, I backpacked through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Part way through the night, I woke up to the sound of rain. Which was strange because I didn't feel any droplets of water. I had a small flashlight, so I turned it on, only to see about 25 mice atop my sleeping bag.

Sometimes things are not what they seem. I had thought that it was raining, only to find out it was an extended family of mice.

How often have we thought that things were one way, and they turned out to be another?

Happy Valentine's Day.

It turns out that there will always be people who are better off than you. On the other hand, there will always be people who are worse off than you.

I told you a little while back about being in a cabin on a bluff when the last ice storm hit. The ice that glazed over everything was gorgeous and beautiful and sparkling, but it was also treacherous.

Temptation is like that. It can look so good, so tempting, so wonderful but it can also be treacherous.

Face it, we wouldn't call it temptation if it wasn't tempting.

So the next time you are attempted to do something, when you're tempted to cut corners, when you're tempted to do things the easy way instead of the hard way, when you're tempted to push the edge of the envelope just a little, thinking everybody else does it, or that you'll never get caught, just stop and weigh the consequences of your actions.

Recently I spent a few days in a little cabin on a bluff — and I arrived just as the ice storm hit a couple of weeks ago. When I opened the door, I discovered that the interior temperature of the cabin was the same temperature that it was outdoors - just about 30°.

So I turned on the wall unit, set it on heat, and some air came out of it that was not entirely cold, but a least it was warmer, and gradually the cabin reached a livable temperature.

I’m telling you this, because sometimes things, like brisket or prayer, take a while. But God always listens. God always answers our prayers, it's just going to take a little while.

Happy Valentine's Day.

It turns out that there will always be people who are better off than you. On the other hand, there will always be people who are worse off than you.

Today is Valentine's Day. Some people think this is the greatest day ever. Some people think it's the worst day ever. Dating can be kind of confusing. Relationships can be challenging.

Fortunately, God has written us an incredible love letter, the Bible. You can start with whichever gospel you like and when you think about it, God has loved you, through actions, your whole life.

So regardless of whether or not you have a Valentine today, the one thing you have that is most important of all is God's love. It's not going to come and go like a feeling, but it's here to stay, no matter what. God is committed to you, and nothing will ever change that.

Happy Valentine's Day.

It turns out that there will always be people who are better off than you. On the other hand, there will always be people who are worse off than you.