Many of you have inquired about my wife's health. Selma is doing well after a thyroidectomy last week. While all the tests have been negative (including after the surgery) - and no pain ever for Selma - the thyroid was growing and several opinions told us that it needed to come out.

It's been ... interesting being able to tell her to shut up all week while her voice is healing. She's actually done very well and has been a great patient. She's even taken my "shut-ups" rather well.

We have felt the prayers of friends and work associates and are grateful to our Lord and the prayer support of everyone. Considering the potential of what could have happened to her voice we are most thankful for a great recovery to this point.

Some time ago Selma was out of town on business. When she returned, Natalie, our youngest, made the following observation to her: "Mom, Daddy seems lost without you." When Selma told me that I thought "fair enough". I don't know that I could take that wrong if I tried. After 33 years she's a part of me for sure. And I AM lost without her around. Perhaps that's why the rollout bed beside hers at Baptist Hospital didn't really feel that bad last week!

A good week to you --

Selma is one to celebrate. She always claims that the weekend of Mother's Day is "her" weekend. All weekend. Her birthday is not her birthday. The week of June 14 is her birthday week.

But I must say she does it with rest of the clan as well. This past week for example, it was my birthday week. She surprised me with a round of golf at a course I'd been wanting to play all my life - The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park outside of Chattanooga. She set it up for me to play with a lot of her family. The seven of us that ended up playing had an amazing time together. Her family all play golf anyway so it was a natural thing.

In my foursome I played golf with the three most special men in my life. (Dad would have been on that list as well.) I played with Steve Vought - my best and long time friend from east TN (like a brother); Roy, my father-in-law (like my second dad); and David, my son-in-law (like my son).

The scenery at Harrison Bay was at times really breath-taking. Water flowed in and out of the course, just like my ball once flowed into the water. (It was the only ball I lost all day.)

When the round was through, I came out on top! I shot an 89, while David had a 90 and the other 5 had a little more than that. Of course they all said it was because it was my birthday that they let me win.

But it wasn't the score that mattered even though I'd only beaten everyone once or twice before - Robert, my brother-in-law (like a brother-in-law :-) usually shoots in the high 70's. It was the time together that was so great. It was playing with the most important men in my life that was so wonderful. in their own ways they are each such an inspiration to me. We got home, talked golf some, watched the Titans get beat, argued some theology - it was all so wonderful.

I am glad my wife knows how to celebrate. She wasn't even there when we played. That didn't matter to her. She got the blessing in being such a blessing. I continue to learn from my wife.

Lord, help me learn every day what you have for me to learn - from your Word, from speaking with you, and from my wife. Let me have more of a giving spirit that you have given her. She is such a blessing from you.

All of this happened when her surgery was coming up last Monday. She's doing fine. I'll give you the details tomorrow.

If you are married, I hope your spouse gives to you. If not, you can start the process by giving to her. Start simply and watch it grow. He/she may even respond. Take it from my wife's lifestyle - it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive.

Just an update on our trip last weekend. Denver has almost no air. Hard to breathe throughout the trip. What should I have expected going to a city known as "The Mile High City"?

And yet, it was a most productive engagement as we got the chance to share our passion for encouraging parents through presenting our book The Parent Adventure to a group of English speaking Christian book distributors. What a literally global opportunity.

We did get to see the Rockies play. And guess who they played? The Atlanta Braves - my fav team! Actually we saw 6+ innings of it. The tarp came on and the rain came down.

A beautiful light show provided by the Lord Himself in the form of 2 hours of constant lightning - WOW! Widespread lightning like I've never seen. A lot like the Lord - beautiful, and a little scary.

Probably the coolest part of the whole trip though was lunch Friday with two other guys very much in my position. Selma and I sat down at the conference hotel to eat when a couple of conferees needed a seat. It was divine appointment for sure. As we got to know them we soon found out that they wore "similar hats" as mine. They were pastors and did a great deal of pastoral counseling.

As we discussed principles and approaches, issues and affect this all had on our own marriages and families, it was a cool thing.

Here's the kicker: one was from Africa and the other was from Southeast Asia. Three ministers, three cultures, three continents ... all the same issues. Fascinating in that wherever you go, people have the same needs.

Thanks for your prayers about the trip. I made some interesting new friends from a long way away, saw the Braves beat the Rockies, and learned some pooignant lessons like the fact that people also need the Lord - wherever they live.