It's Personal Now

 

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Stardate 12.12.2025

A note of gratitude is my first order of business this morning.
To my inner circle of prayer warriors — you are my heroes.

Without crossing any lines of confidentiality, let me assure you: the greatest danger has passed for the loved one you’ve been holding in your prayers. By the grace of God alone, the Grim Reaper has been pushed back.

But the battle isn’t over.
Your prayers are still needed.
Keep them on red alert.

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It’s hard to believe Christmas is only thirteen days away. My sense of time feels warped, like the clock is running through its own maze. I wouldn’t wish the personal storm I’m walking through on my greatest enemy.

This road I’m traveling reminds me of the Road to Hana on the island of Maui — a beautiful, treacherous path full of twists, turns, and cliffside surprises. My wife said after we made that trip, “Once is enough. Never again.”

I feel that.
But still… I press on.

When the weight gets heavy, I think of the day Jesus carried the Cross to Calvary. I think of the nails. The suffering. The unimaginable love that held Him there.
He did that for me.
He did that for you.
That’s how personal His love is.

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And now — it’s personal for me too.
There’s no turning back.

The spiritual warfare has intensified. The powers and principalities are pouting, scrambling, digging deep into their playbook.  With the exception of this blog, I'm on radio silence so I can minimize the noise and the fighting going on in the world around me.

But I’m not afraid.

Yesterday I told one of my prayer warriors:
“When the challenge in front of me looks impossible, I turn around and remember who is standing behind me.”

This is the season of great joy, and I’m doubling down on that truth. Peace is not only possible — it’s promised. Even in the storm. Especially in the storm.

This week I’ve been granted temporary access to one of the most sacred places I know for prayer and meditation — the quiet, holy space on the 12th floor. You don’t enter that place without permission. And somehow, in this season, the door has been opened.

The Grim Reaper is losing his grip.
Your prayers are working.
And grace is doing what grace does best.

Have a great day, friends.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Doctor, the captain reports heightened spiritual conflict. It appears he intends to advance rather than retreat.”
Bones: “Well, Spock, that’s what faith does. It makes a man charge straight into the dark with a lantern in his hand.”
Spock: “A curious strategy. Illogical… yet statistically effective when supported by communal prayer.”
Bones: “Did you just say prayer was effective?”
Spock: “I said the statistical outcome improves, Doctor. Your emotional interpretation is unnecessary.”
Bones: “Spock, one day you’re going to admit you believe in something bigger than numbers.”
Spock: “I believe in results, Doctor. And today, the captain has them.”

Michael’s Reflection:
The battle is real, but so is the One who fights for us. When the path feels impossible, I’m learning to pause, breathe, and remember Who stands behind me. It’s personal now — not in fear, but in faith.

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Scripture for the Journey

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

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Thank you for walking with me today. May God steady your steps, strengthen your heart, and remind you — especially in your hardest battles — that you never stand alone. May this truth shape your prayers, your thoughts, and your courage today.

There's an Elephant Hiding in the Magical Forest

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Stardate 12.11.2025

Before I get too far into today’s message, I want to pause and thank those in my inner prayer circle. Your prayers have mattered more than you know.
While the details remain private, let’s just say the Grim Reaper was knocking on a loved one’s door — and it was far too close for comfort. The danger isn’t over, so if you’re the praying type, or even the good-thoughts-sending type, we would be grateful for your continued support.

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There’s an elephant hiding in the magical forest of my family story — one that’s lingered across generations.
We don’t talk about him much. The topic is sensitive, and silence often feels safer. There’s an unspoken pact: don’t bring it up, don’t stir the dust, don’t cross the invisible line.

But ignoring him has consequences too. Maybe even more than speaking his name.

My dad fought demons for most of his life. The first one came neatly packaged in government-issued cigarette rations handed out to Marines in Korea. He grew fond of them, carried the habit home, and paired it with beer — a combination that looks harmless from the outside but can quietly take the wheel.

And of course, there’s that old joke from my teenage years:
“Why did God invent whiskey?”
“So the Irish wouldn’t rule the world.”

Everyone laughs, but behind the humor sits a reality that touches more homes than most people will ever admit — and not just Irish families.

Addiction is the elephant in many living rooms. And I’ve seen what happens when someone tries to chase it out alone. It doesn’t work. Not for long, anyway.

There’s a better way.
A way that begins with love.
A way that recognizes a power greater than ourselves.
A way that often includes a wise therapist, a supportive community, and the courage to look in the mirror and say, “Maybe the change begins with me.”

I’m learning that grace is the key.
Not judgment.
Not shame.
Not silence.
Grace.

If you’ve never had an elephant in your life, count your blessings — truly. And please resist the urge to shame those who do. You never know how heavy their battle has been.

As for me, the elephant still wanders my magical forest. Some days I see him; some days he stays invisible. And maybe that’s okay for now. Invisibility can keep the peace while healing does its slow, sacred work.

Thank you again for your prayers. They matter more than you know.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Doctor, it appears the captain is addressing a large metaphorical creature that only some can perceive. Highly illogical.”
Bones: “For heaven’s sake, Spock, families always have elephants. Some folks have whole herds. Just because you can’t quantify it doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
Spock: “I do not deny its existence. I merely suggest the captain’s approach — grace — is the most efficient strategy for reducing emotional turbulence.”
Bones: “Well I’ll be… Did you just agree with me?”
Spock: “I stated a fact, Doctor. Your emotional satisfaction is irrelevant.”
Bones: “Keep telling yourself that, pointy ears.”

Michael’s Reflection:
The elephant may be big, loud, and stubborn, but grace has a way of softening its footsteps. The more I learn to offer compassion instead of condemnation — toward others and toward myself — the lighter the forest becomes.

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Scripture for the Journey

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Thank you for spending part of your day here. May God meet you gently in whatever forest you’re walking through, and may He bless you with the courage to face what feels unspoken, unseen, or too heavy to name.
Carry this with you today — grace is stronger than any elephant.

Mother Nature Forces Schedule Shift for Day Job Bosses

Stardate 12.10.2025

Our leadership team was scheduled to arrive later in the morning, so when my general manager said, “They’ll be here any minute,” I nearly did a double take. I’d just clocked in, expecting a few quiet hours before their visit. But sometimes heaven rearranges our timelines. Strong winds made their original destination unsafe, so they rerouted—and landed right in what I like to call “the golden hour” at my day job.

Without crossing any confidentiality lines, I can share this: the visit went well. Better than well. Smiles all around, good conversations, and a sense that the experiment we’re running to better serve our members is moving in the right direction.

Today, I’m savoring a day off. It’s the perfect chance to spend time in my home studio before tennis practice tonight. Recent snowstorms postponed our league play, pushing matches into January—right when retail life usually settles down a bit. I’m also grateful my boss approved my winter leave request. A little sunshine is medicine for my soul during the colder months, and my wife and I are already planning to bring our pickleball paddles on our next escape.

Winter can weigh on a person, but having something to look forward to warms the heart. One day at a time, one percent better, I'm learning how to take care of myself in every season. May today bring you a spark of warmth too.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “Well, Spock, it appears even management can’t escape the whims of Mother Nature.”
Spock: “Indeed, Doctor. Atmospheric instability often produces unexpected outcomes. In this case, a favorable one.”
Bones: “Only you could make a surprise inspection sound like a meteorological blessing.”
Spock: “Your emotional interpretation is noted… though the results do seem agreeable.”

Michael’s Reflection:
Some days feel rearranged by forces beyond our control, but blessings often hide inside these unexpected shifts. Yesterday reminded me that God can reroute schedules just as easily as the wind reroutes flights—and He often does so for our good.

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Scripture for Strength

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
— Proverbs 19:21

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Thank you for walking this journey with me. May your day offer a moment of unexpected grace to carry into prayer or quiet reflection. 

Day Job Bosses Visit Today

Stardate 12.09.2025

Some seasons stretch us in ways we never expected, and today is one of those days. With four years and seven months left in this chapter of my day job, the pace of change feels faster than ever. Our company has been in the news, and the shifts happening around us seem to pick up speed each week. There’s only so much I’m allowed to share publicly, but I can speak from the heart — and what I see every day is a team trying their best to steady themselves in the whirlwind.

In the middle of all this, my coworkers and I have been working closely to adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward even when the “new normal” shows up with another twist. Today, our top leaders are visiting. And if things go well, our little corner of the company might become part of the solution… a model of how people can stand together and face a changing world with courage.

So if you’re reading this, I’d ask you to keep my team in your thoughts. Lift them up in whatever way feels right to you — prayer, hope, or a simple kind intention whispered into the morning air. Days like this matter.

And thank you for walking this journey with me.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “Spock, remind me again why every time leaders visit, humans act like they’re preparing for a Vulcan High Council inspection?”

Spock: “It is quite logical, Doctor. Humans frequently exhibit elevated anxiety when authority figures appear, even when their performance is satisfactory.”

Bones: “Performance? Spock, these folks are trying to keep a whole ship afloat in a storm. A little empathy wouldn’t hurt.”

Spock: “Doctor, I am demonstrating empathy. I merely prefer to express it without unnecessary dramatics.”

Bones: “Unnecessary—? Blast it, Spock…”

Captain Michael’s Reflection:
Days like today remind me that even when we can’t control the bigger picture, we can still choose how we show up. We can choose unity. We can choose steadiness. We can choose hope. And sometimes, hope is enough to shift an entire atmosphere.

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Scripture for Strength

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9

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May your day hold more peace than pressure, more clarity than confusion, and just enough grace to remind you you’re not facing anything alone.

Meet Molly McGee, Newest Member of Mulligan's Magical Forest

Stardate 12.08.2025

Yesterday, something small and unexpected slipped into my life — and somehow carried years of meaning with it.

While I was walking through my day job, Cedar, one of our associates who hands out food samples with the joy of someone sprinkling kindness like confetti, approached me with a handmade gift. During her breaks, she knits little creatures, and this time she crafted a bright green octopus.

She had no idea the octopus had already been living in my imagination as an illustration for how our department is changing — becoming more mobile, more supportive, and more connected to every branch of our building. Like an octopus reaching out with eight purposeful arms, we’re branching beyond our desks thanks to new laptops and a mindset shift. I even shared this idea with our CEO, Ron, who began his own journey with us back when he was a part-time forklift driver attending the same community college I once called home in Arizona.

I asked Cedar, “Does this little one have a name?”

She smiled. “I prefer the person receiving it to choose.”

I paused… and the name Molly bubbled up. Irish, friendly, familiar. My dad gave that nickname to his second wife. When I reached for a last name, McGee appeared in my mind like it was waiting for me. And suddenly, Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” one of the most-played songs on my dad’s jukebox at Mulligan’s, came rushing back.

In that moment, my past and present gently folded into each other — my childhood, my college years, the ache of my dad leaving, and the life I’m building now. And now Molly McGee has taken her place in my home studio, right beside my dad’s old fake shillelagh stick… another relic of my story, redeemed and repurposed.

If you ever stop by my home, ask for a tour of the studio. Mulligan’s Magical Forest is growing — one creature, one story, one healing moment at a time. The next chapter of my life will be broadcast from this sacred little sanctuary. If you haven’t yet read God’s Black Sheep Squadron, it pairs beautifully with the spirit of today’s story — especially now that Molly and the shillelagh have joined the cast.

May you live long and prosper. Have a great day.
🖖

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Doctor, it appears Michael’s forest continues to expand. An octopus named Molly, crafted by a woman named Cedar is… statistically unexpected.”
Bones: “Spock, everything about Michael is statistically unexpected. That’s why it works.”
Spock: “Perhaps. Though I find it intriguing that a symbolic octopus could inspire structural efficiency.”
Bones: “Well, you would. But I say if a knitted cephalopod can help a man grow, heal, and stay connected — then hand me a needle and some yarn.”
Spock: “Fascinating.”
Michael: Sometimes the smallest gifts arrive at the exact moment God wants to remind us He’s still weaving meaning through our memories — one thread, one creature, one healing breath at a time.

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Scripture for the Journey

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
A reminder that even the tender places of our stories can become the soil where new life grows.

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Mission Log

Molly McGee officially joins Mulligan’s Magical Forest as a symbol of connection — past to present, heart to healing, calling to creativity. 

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Thank you for sharing this moment with me today. May this story invite you to look for the gentle surprises God places in your own path… the ones that remind you you’re still growing, still held, and still being guided home.

How Fear Tangles God's Plans

Stardate 12.07.2025

Before today’s mission truly begins, a quick report from basecamp:
We are safe and sound after another winter storm swept across Iowa yesterday late in the day, shutting down our date night and turning the roads into sheets of white. Travel was nearly impossible. I’ll head back out soon for another round of shoveling before the temperatures plunge to 3º later today.

Now, onto the heart of the message.

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Have you ever wondered what happens when fear interrupts the plans God has already set in motion for your life? Scripture doesn’t shy away from answering that question — and the answers, at times, are sobering.

Consider the ancient story of God’s chosen people. They reached the border of the promised land in less than a week. A week. Then Moses sent twelve spies ahead. Ten came back terrified, overwhelmed by what they saw. Their fear was contagious and crippling. Only two — Joshua and Caleb — returned with confidence, with trust, with eyes tuned to God’s promise rather than to danger.

Because fear outweighed faith, the people turned back. Not for a day. Not for a season.
For forty years.

As my friend Boris likes to remind me, his culture sees forty years as an entire generation. By the time the people returned to the promised land, only two of those twelve original spies were still alive — the very two who had encouraged everyone to trust God the first time. Even Moses, faithful as he had been, never entered. He died in the desert he never intended to walk for so long.

So here’s the question the story asks of us today:

When you sense what God wants to do in your life, how do you respond?

If the path feels overwhelming…
If the fear feels louder than faith…
If the unknown seems too risky…

You are not alone. That’s exactly when daily habits become lifelines.

Reading the Bible each morning has anchored me more than I can describe — and the 365 verses about fear are no coincidence. God knew we’d need that reminder every single day. Therapy helped too. Ironically, the most life-changing tool my therapist ever handed me was the serenity prayer. I didn’t have to wander in my own desert for decades. I simply had to learn to stop resisting God’s direction and start walking in step with it.

Most of my old struggles came from misalignment.
Most of my anxiety came from resisting instead of trusting.
Most of my pain came from trying to steer when God was trying to guide.

You don’t have to lose years to fear. You don’t have to miss the land God is trying to lead you into. Take a breath, take courage, and take that next step — even if your knees shake a bit.

May you live long and prosper.
Have a wonderful day, my friend.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: Spock, I swear—fear may not be logical, but it sure is human.
Spock: Doctor, fear becomes illogical only when one permits it to prevent forward progress.
Bones: Well, it’s easy for you to say. You don’t have a heartbeat faster than a warp core misfire every time something big comes along.
Spock: Yet Captain Michael appears to manage both a human heart and forward momentum rather effectively.
Bones: Hmph. I’ll give him that. Fella takes his lumps and still keeps moving, even when there's a foot of snow in his driveway.
Spock: Indeed. A most commendable trait.

Michael’s Reflection:
If Scripture, history, therapists, and the Starship Enterprise all agree on something, it might be wise to listen. Fear doesn’t disqualify us — it simply asks whether we trust the One leading the way. God’s plans aren’t stopped by fear… only delayed. And today? Today is a much better day to trust than tomorrow.

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Scripture for the Journey

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

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Thank you for joining me today. May this message nudge you a little closer to courage, a little closer to alignment, a little closer to the life God is waiting to unfold. Let it sit with you in prayer or quiet reflection — and may peace find you right where you are.  If you happen to know someone who could benefit from today's message, please forward this story.  Thank you!

Battle at High Noon on Our Home Courts Today

Battle at High Noon on Our Home Courts Today

Stardate 12.06.2025

Some mornings arrive with a quiet sense of promise — today feels like one of them.
There’s a trifecta on the schedule: golden-hour storytelling in Mulligan’s Magical Forest, a league match in the Men’s 40+ division to defend our undefeated season, and an evening date with my bride of 36 years. We’re finding a new rhythm in this chapter of life — steady, peaceful, life-giving. And I’m grateful.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what winning really means. Not trophies. Not rankings. Not applause. But the inner victories — the habits we build one day, one choice, one brave step at a time.

Most of us don’t even realize we’re living inside a pattern. Habit after habit.
Some habits move us toward the life God dreams for us…
and others quietly steer us away from it.

For years, I thought I was destined to be a “loser” on the tennis court. I’ve stacked up more losses than I can count. Honestly? My teammates used to tense up when they saw me in the lineup. There was a stretch when it seemed like I couldn’t get a win even if the wind, the sun, and the scoreboard were all trying to help me.

My lowest point came during sectionals several years ago. One of the strongest players on our team wanted me benched. He made his case clearly, and it stung.
I told my captain I’d step aside if it increased our chances — and I meant it.

But my captain stuck with me.
And that vote of confidence lit a fire in me.

The teammate who lobbied to replace me left the team.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I imagined that maybe one day our paths would cross again… and I’d get to show him how far I’ve come — not with spite, but with gratitude. His criticism became a catalyst. His honesty forced me to grow.

That’s the power of habit.
Winning can be learned.
Losing can be unlearned.
No matter your age. No matter your past. No matter your track record.

The real question is simple:

Which habit are you reinforcing with today’s choices?

If you’re tired of losing — in health, relationships, faith, purpose — today offers a clean slate.
Start small. Start steady.
Start one percent better.

May today bring you a chance to say, “I’m choosing a new way.”

May you live long and prosper.
Have a great day.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: High noon tennis matches… Michael, remind me again why we’re not napping instead?
Spock: Doctor, the captain is merely engaging in competitive conditioning. It enhances discipline, resilience, and cardiovascular health.
Bones: Resilience? He’s playing against men who treat winning like a second career!
Spock: Precisely why the experience is… educational.
Bones: (grumbling) Educational is one word for it. Personally, I’d choose “hazardous.”
Spock: Illogical. The captain’s improvement curve demonstrates that perseverance is statistically effective.  Logic tells me this curve mirrors the deliberate steps taken by Michael's 86yr-old mother which appears to be a solid foundation on which to build maximum health and wellness.
Bones: Fine. Fine. Just don’t ask me to play him or face off with his mother on the pickleball courts. My pride can’t afford it.

Michael’s Reflection:
Their banter reminds me that growth never happens in comfort. It happens when we step onto the court — literal or metaphorical — even when we’re nervous, imperfect, or still learning. God honors the effort. Habits form in the daily showing up, not the grand gestures.

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Scripture for the Journey

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

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Mission Log

Status: New habits forming. Confidence rising.
Objective: Choose the next one-percent-better step.
Risk Level: Minimal.
Reward Potential: Eternal.

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A Closing Thought

Thank you for spending a few moments here. May God strengthen the habits that bring you life, and may He gently unravel the ones that hold you back.
Carry this into your quiet time: “Lord, help me choose the next small step toward the life You’re shaping in me.”