Five Women Worth Knowing About

My maternal grandfather, Michael Essey Hanna, immigrated from Damascus, Syria. I was the last grandchild he kissed, but I don’t remember my Jiddo (Syrian for grandfather). He died of a heart attack at age 71 when I was just two months old. My maternal grandmother, Anna Sarah Hanna, was born in America to Syrian immigrants. IContinue reading "Five Women Worth Knowing About"

Pap C, My Hero

I have an awesome family. One of the reasons, if not the main reason, is my Pap C, Louis Casciani, Jr. Pap C was drafted into the US Navy, on July 2, 1943 It's hard to believe Pap died five years ago on May 10, 2019. I miss him so much. Growing up, I wouldContinue reading "Pap C, My Hero"

Neighborly Love Podcast, Episode 44 – Ephraim T. Berexa

Ordinary People. Extraordinary Conversations. If "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and "The Parable of the Good Samaritan" collided at an intersection, then the Neighborly Love podcast would be the result. It features casual conversations over coffee in a "virtual coffee shop" that lean into the power of empathy. It's about feeling heard, valued, and understood.Continue reading "Neighborly Love Podcast, Episode 44 – Ephraim T. Berexa"

Your Mark on the World

Our most innate need is to feel significant, to find purpose and meaning in our human existence. We want something to survive us. While many attempt to find significance by gratifying their own ambitions, I argue that significance is not possible unless what we do contributes to the welfare of others. There’s a test forContinue reading "Your Mark on the World"

No Credit, No Limit

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States of America, once said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Just imagine what your family, company, or community could accomplish if everyone put their ego aside and focused on the important tasksContinue reading "No Credit, No Limit"

Better, not Bitter

One letter separates the words better and bitter. Such a minor difference in appearance, yet a dramatic difference in outcome. What enables one to become better, not bitter? In an article titled Are You Coachable? in The Deseret News, Timothy R. Clark says about the term coachability: As a term, coachability has not officially enteredContinue reading "Better, not Bitter"

Your Neighborhood Sphere

A Safe Space We all need a safe space where we can explore what lies beyond our brokenness and limitations. Even if that space is available for only moments at a time, if it’s truly a safe space, it’s sacred because it also points us to the safe people who love and care about us.Continue reading "Your Neighborhood Sphere"

Neighborly Love Podcast, Episode 43 – Jesse Adams

Ordinary People. Extraordinary Conversations. If "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and "The Parable of the Good Samaritan" collided at an intersection, then the Neighborly Love podcast would be the result. It features casual conversations over coffee in a "virtual coffee shop" that lean into the power of empathy. It's about feeling heard, valued, and understood.Continue reading "Neighborly Love Podcast, Episode 43 – Jesse Adams"

If I’m Not Dead, You’re Not Done

If I'm not dead, you're not doneGreater things are still to comeOh, I believeMy best days are up ahead of meThis is my testimony https://youtu.be/7NyH9mDYECk?si=tZmaFS3pvGJhjya5 “My Testimony" live from the album, Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship. The song, "My Testimony," inspired me to write this morning. It's performed by Elevation Worship, a music ministryContinue reading "If I’m Not Dead, You’re Not Done"

America’s 👍 Problem

It is so easy to 👍 something these days. Something once relegated to social media feeds can now be found in text messaging and emails. Rather than reply to a text, we can simply "like" it. Most businesses use Microsoft's Outlook for emails and you can now "like" an email. If you subscribe to blogs,Continue reading "America’s 👍 Problem"