Going Home: Opening Day

Today, I will join my mom at Opening Day for the Texas Rangers. We’ll sit in Home Run Porch, in seats marked “Bentrup Family.” My parents, longtime season ticket holders, have been staples in those green chairs. We texted their ballpark usher last week to let him know my dad had gone…

Going Home

This past Wednesday, my father went home.

As hard as it is for my mom, my sisters, me, and our families, Dad was ready. When we met with the oncologist last Monday, he told Dr. Page “I’m ready to go home.” Then on Tuesday, their pastor (and my long-time friend) Peter Couser brought…

Our Children Will Teach Us

I’ve been writing this blog in my head for nearly a week now. Ever since my seven-year-old son and I were eating dinner at Subway and a news story about the Philando Castile case came on the television. I wasn’t really paying attention to the TV, but out of nowhere my son asked…

Going Home: Father’s Day

When your father is alive and well, you tend not to notice all the commercial marketing for Father’s Day. Greeting cards, suggested gifts, television ads, even old jokes about buying that perfect necktie — again — for dear ol’ dad.

Going Home: He is Risen

I’ve had a pretty crappy Lent.

On Wednesday, March 1 — Ash Wednesday — we got the news we didn’t want to hear. The spot the doctors found on my dad’s lung was cancer. Further tests would reveal it was stage four. Three weeks later, my dad died.

If you are the Son of God…

Collect for Today:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our…