We’ve been in one of my favorite seasons for a few weeks now. I love it for the same reasons most of you do – family, football and a little break from the Texas heat. But fall is good for other things, too. In my life, when fall comes around, I take a minute to stop and ask, “Do I like what’…

The story is told of a wealthy business magnate from the United States who lived during the turn of the last century. His wife went traveling in Europe and sent him a telegram which read: “Have found wonderful bracelet. Price is $75,000. May I buy it?”

One of the funniest verses in the Bible to me is Job 14:1 which literally says, “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.” That’s encouraging, huh? Basically, what it is saying is that everyone has bad days. Everyone experiences trouble.

One of the things I enjoy most in this world is to get my back scratched. I think most guys can relate. It’s in our DNA. When we ask our wives to scratch our backs, however, what do we often hear?

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.

We’re all keeping two mental lists throughout our lives: One filled with rewarding experiences we’ve had, and one filled with regrets we wish we could forget. This presents a question: Why do we fail in certain seasons and flourish in others? Thankfully, Psalm 1:1-3 gives us the answer.

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.

As a nation, we recently remembered the anniversary of 9/11. Do you remember where you were when you heard about the attacks?

How many of us can say we have a strong relationship with God? Most of us have a relationship with God that is like the flicker of a candle rather than the glory of the midday sun.

Friday night lights is once again upon us. Football is in full swing. For me as a parent, home games are awesome. Our high school is a three-minute drive from my house. If I want to, I can actually walk to the stadium to watch my daughter march in the band.

Things like self-help books, motivational TED talks and blogs on time management are so popular today. And for good reason: They help a lot of us make the most of today without putting too much value on tomorrow.

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.

II Timothy 3:16 -17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The Bible uses many colorful names for Jesus: the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Messiah or Christ (both of which mean “the Anointed or Chosen One”), Emanuel (which means “God with us”) and even the name Jesus (which means “Savior”).

Editor’s note: Elaine Wheat’s granddaughter, Marilyn Elaine Wheat, wrote a column this week.

Tamara and I recently welcomed our first granddaughter into the world, and if you’ve ever been a grandparent, you know how it brings back so many memories of parenting. It truly reminds you both how exhilarating and exhausting it can be.

Psalm 121 is a short Psalm but what it has to tell us is a very big truth.

Most kids are not great at subtlety – especially regarding the things they want. Around birthdays or Christmas time, they make sure to let us know what gifts they want, whether by texting us photos, leaving magazines lying around, or just flat out telling us!

Do me a favor. I’d like to try a little experiment. Raise your index finger and hold it about a foot in front of your face. Now focus closely on that finger. Do you notice how everything else becomes somewhat blurry or distorted?

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.

In one of the early scenes of the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” Indiana Jones wakes up in an airplane that is quickly losing fuel. The pilots have already parachuted out of the plane. Then, Indiana’s young sidekick, Short Round, gives him the bad news.

Have you ever walked into a warm room, but you still felt a chill? It wasn’t because of the temperature but because of something else you felt. Fear. Bitterness. Strife. We can feel those things in environments, can’t we? And the truth is that if we don’t learn to deal with those negative sp…

It’s the fifth pillar of Islam, a required spiritual pilgrimage for more than a billion Muslims around the world.

It was nine years ago when I first arrived in Texas to interview for the Victoria Advocate.

I think we’d all agree with the fact that we live in a culture that has attempted to redefine virtue. And because of that, we have things that are forbidden by God freely taken part in by people all around us. Maybe even us. It’s alarming to see that truth is being so sidestepped, with peopl…

Recently a friend shared with me a column from the July 1 Victoria Advocate, written by Dave Sather, a financial planner. The article extolled the virtues of compound interest.

Roman Catholic Henri Nouwen wrote that when we are born, we begin the process of aging. Some will avoid the signs of aging by dyeing their hair, Botox injections, plastic surgery, the use of various creams or other available options. Others live in denial, seeking to do the things of younger…

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.

Linda Grant Ross was a little girl in the 1950s when she first set eyes on a piano.

The other day, I had a conversation with a coworker who had recently taken up playing the guitar.

Have you ever met anyone in church or in any Christian circle, really, who claims to have the gift of speaking in tongues?

One of the biggest wake-up calls of my life came at 15 years old. I was out playing whiffle ball with my cousins, when I learned devastating news: My dad had had a heart attack at only 47 years old.

This has been a challenging year for me personally as I have lost a number of family members who have transitioned to glory – a brother, a nephew and three close cousins. I thank God for individuals who rendered words of encouragement. Encouragement is a need we all have. That is why we shou…

I’ve had three funerals in the last month. That’s an abnormally high number for a church our size. It looks like I may have another one very soon.

Editor’s note: On Dec. 28, 2018, Elaine crossed over to that Eternal Shore and her family, friends and readers are missing her. The Advocate is reprinting Elaine’s articles for a year.