Sabbath Stories: Because I Said So, By Chaplain Robert Nickell

My wife and I took 7 kids to the beach this past weekend – 3 of which are our own.  We also took our 10 month old puppy, so needless to say it was a mad house at times!  No matter how gifted one is at parenting, it is not easy to keep order when it comes to children.  Personally, I find myself explaining things over and over again, answering questions, giving warnings, and so on.  The truth is, with some kids, explanations don’t always work. In these cases, I tend to resort to a solid, “Because I said so!” Read more…

Sabbath Stories: Are you a Mary or a Martha? By Chaplain Robert Nickell

I knew this one guy at Seminary; he was as peaceful of a person as I have ever seen. He never seemed to be in a rush or out of control. I asked him one time how he did it, how he remained so peaceful all the time. He just smiled and said to me, “I guess I am like a duck then to you…on the surface I seem to be calm and stress-free, but if you could see my feet under the water, you would see them peddling very fast and in all different directions.”

In regards to peace, we all have to ask ourselves this question, Read more…

Sabbath Stories: I Drove By, by Chaplain Robert Nickell

I was driving to work this morning and saw a lady at the side of the road putting fresh flowers on one of those road side crosses which mark the place where someone died.  I saw this lady down on her knees placing the flowers with great care, and I just drove on by… because I had to be at a meeting.  Read more…