As 2013 unfolds there are many uncertainties.

Some of the future prompts unrest like the concerns and fears surrounding congressional tax hikes, budget cuts and a “fiscal cliff.”

Some of the future prompts hope; after all, as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan hope despite the past is burned into my DNA.

Some of the future prompts joy; like the joy felt by my friends Ben and Kristin Kindred who married Monday.

The future may be uncertain, but there are future dates scheduled:

I’m forty-nine years old. I don’t feel old, but I don’t feel young either.

I spend my life encouraging others to live their life well.  Mysilentscream.com exists — through stories, some tips, and some Scriptures — to inspire you to live well. 

As I’m nearing fifty I’m looking for “older” people to inspire me to live the rest of my life well too.  Billy Graham’s book Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well seemed like a good fit.

Billy Graham’s book is honest, vulnerable, and inspiring.

My friend Jimmy Cooper has one of those experiences that you want, and don’t want to have. I’ll let him explain. 1

 On January 19th, 2012 -  I was with my wife Christiane in our apartment in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We had been out on a date and we had just gotten home. Actually, I guess we had been home for an hour or so and it was pretty late at night, about 1:30am. I started having an overwhelming feeling that I needed to lie down. It was out of the blue and I couldn’t fight it, so I lay down in bed and closed my eyes. I wasn’t feeling well and it came on so quickly, I just had to close my eyes.

A couple years ago Lisa Stordahl finagled tickets for Christian Olsen, Dede Rogers and me to attend a great concert.  That night we heard some awesome music by Third Day, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and Switchfoot.

One of my favorite moments of the concert had nothing to do with the music.  While walking through the crowd Jon Foreman, the lead singer for Switchfoot walked up to Christian Olsen.  Jon reached out and shook Christian’s hand.  They embraced.  A handshake.  It made my night.