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Saturday, December 2, 1995 - Awaken to the sounds of prison life—chains on belts with keys rattling. Doors slamming—slots opened and closed—doors being kicked for the CO (corrections officer) to come—inmates hollering—chains rattling. The sunrise over the compound and breakfast. We ate—I don't remember what. Eggs and cereal, I think—it was OK. Passed through the slot in trays and back again. That was the routine all weekend and Monday&mdash…

Webster defines hijacked in this way; to steal or to commandeer. Have you ever felt as if your true self, the one that God made you to be, has been commandeered? Stolen? Hijacked? You’re not alone. Ever since that fateful day when we surrendered to an enemy that was hell bent on tricking us into submission, we’ve been struggling to get back that one thing that was stolen from us. That one thing is simply the knowledge of our true self as we desperately look to…

I recently saw an interview with Dana White, the head of the UFC (Ultimate Fight Championship). As an entrepreneur, he’s pretty impressive. He cares about his employees, his fighters, and his bottom line and backs it up with the loyalty and the investment necessary to make it the most popular full-contact combat sport in the world. I remember when boxing was just that. The "Thrilla in Manila" was the third and final boxing match between WBA, WBC, and The…

I walked out of the grocery store twice in the last week with items I didn’t pay for. Almond milk one time, and pepperoni the other. They were in the lower part of the cart, and I neglected to scan them - one time at the self-checkout and another when I had the clerk doing all the work. I discovered the mishap when I unloaded the cart into my car and there they were. My ill-gotten gains. Immediately I said two things to myself. First, I don’t want to go back in…

I overheard a conversation by several members at an exclusive country club where I help out on Fridays as a Starter. I love being outside and enjoying God’s creation even from a golf cart on the first tee. It’s a beautiful location and a nationally ranked course. But….. I consistently hear about first-world problems. Complaints, or suggestions for improvement, are not uncommon. For example, about staff members, other golfers, the proverbial stock market…

I recently completed a book entitled The Band That Played On, by Steve Turner. It’s a well-researched account of the musicians who lost their lives aboard the Titanic. As Turner recounts the past life of the band leader, Wallace Hartley and his roots in Colne, mention is made of John Wesley’s visits to that region and in particular Lancashire and Colne, notoriously known for its tough and violent reputation. Turner goes on to describe the impact Wesley had on…

It was a magnificent day on the Chesapeake Bay overlooking the C&D Canal at one of our favorite spots - Schaefer’s Canal House. We come here often, not only to write but to relax – taking in the scents and the sounds of the boats and ripples from the tiny waves lapping against the bulkhead. A no-wake zone. Colleen and I were enjoying a day away from the grind - tipping our glass to the greatness of God. Taking in the sites. People watching has to be the…

It was December 1st, 1995, when I walked into the US Marshals office at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia a free man – and exited a prisoner. In handcuffs, ankle cuffs chained together and to two other men shuffling to a waiting van in an underground garage. ‘How the heck did I get here?’ was the question I asked myself many times over the subsequent 90 Days in Federal Prison. Locked up for pleading guilty to multiple felony counts of mail fraud - setting…

From a very young age, I (Colleen) can remember God’s presence in my life. In fact, as a child, my parents described my life as “mystical”. Since my parents were Catholic at the time, they viewed me as going the way of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, far from a positive thing in their minds. An interesting side-note, I did not learn until I was 45 that my Father and Mother had prayed against my “gifts” until my Dad realized that my…