Following a noteworthy career in magazine, curriculum, book and Bible publishing, Dean Merrill is now concentrating on indepen­dent editorial work. Some of his projects are solo writing, many are collaborations with well-known personalities, and still others involve overall directing of complex editorial projects.
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• “Just Go Out and Have Fun” - A seven-year-old climbs in the minivan after attending a birthday party. “Did you have fun?” his mother asks. A star quarterback tells the after-game interviewer, “We said at halftime, ‘We’re too uptight. Let’s just go out there and have fun, and we’ll win this thing.’” An employee is asked by his friend how the new… read more »
• Looking for a Loophole - W. C. Fields, the famous comedian and actor who spun such punch lines as “I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday” and “I certainly do not drink all the time; I have to sleep, you know,” was a confirmed atheist. When he finally lay dying (of cirrhosis of… read more »
• So Sorry - About five weeks ago I wrote a post here about finding the will to forgive those who offend us, belittle us, or make us look bad in the eyes of our friends. I told the story of the former Nazi prison guard who approached one of his victims, Corrie ten Boom, after World War II… read more »
• The Narrow Way and the Corporate Ladder - Work, in the final analysis, is not something Christians do for a boss, for stockholders or even themselves…. read more »
• The Benefits of Not Fitting In - Certain attributes stand out in a crowd, no matter what you do. Red hair, for example. Unusual height (ask me about that one!). A non-majority skin color.Other things, however, can be covered over. Especially in the spiritual realm…. read more »
• How Long, O Lord? - When I tell you what I thought about my godly father, now 82 and wheelchair-bound in an Iowa nursing home, you’ll be shocked. But when I tell you how God managed to straighten my head, you’ll be relieved…. read more »
• A Husband’s Prayer - Zipping out of our bedroom the other day, I glanced again at a framed poem on the wall. I wrote it years ago on an American Airlines flight from Dallas back to New York, and two Christian magazines picked it up. It spoke about the special place my wife held then, and still holds, in… read more »
• Well, It’s Legal, Isn’t It? - Have you noticed how frequently ethical debates these days start—and end—with the question “Is it legal?”? read more »
• The Sexual Hazards of Pastoral Care - Moral failure in the ministry is more often the result of inattention than intent…. read more »
• More than Naysayers - Good things happen when we balance our condemnation of sin with the Christian graces of mercy, love and hope. The sternness of “no” cries out for an offsetting “yes.” … read more »
• Liberty vs. Virtue - Liberty and freedom are great—but they don’t make a strong nation if citizens do not use their freedoms responsibly. read more »
• Offended - Who was the most recent person to malign you? Make you look bad (or stupid)? Denigrate you (to your face, or behind your back)? Take advantage of you? Even rip you off? read more »