u_lw71x76vjc@pixa No Silence The joy of Palm Sunday has just passed by, and the week ahead is full for Jesus and His disciples. There is very little silence in Jerusalem during Passover week. Monday Matthew 21:12-13: On Monday, Jesus visited the temple and did not like what he saw. The scriptures give us witness to one of the few times Jesus lost His temper, and it was not in silence that Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who... Read more
Life Lessons from Little Women This week I am directing our high school spring drama: Little Women. It is not a specifically Christian play, so I was curious about how we might treat it in a Christian high school. The fact that it was never one of my favorite pieces of literature (sorry) made directing a challenge. However, spending so much time with “Meg,” “Jo,” “Beth,” and “Amy” these last few months has given me some insight and appreciation... Read more
Lorraine Hansberry: 1930-1965 Langston Hughes: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Proverbs 13:12: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. For those who have not... Read more
Christ’s Chapel–The Smallest Church in America A couple years ago, my husband and I were traveling around coastal Georgia touring Revolutionary and Civil War forts. It was a fascinating trip and we saw and learned so much in that beautiful area of our country. It was on a lovely, sunny, spring afternoon that we drove down US Highway 17 near the South Newport River and the city of Darien, when a sign caught our eyes: “The Smallest Church in America.”... Read more
About Amish Country If you drive up 1-77 North toward Cleveland, Ohio, take Exit 73 for Ohio 751 toward Stone Creek/Tuscarawas, veer onto Beuhler Road and Ragersville Road Southwest to Ohio 39 West, you will find yourself amidst the beautiful rolling hills, charming towns, and manicured fields of Ohio’s Amish Country. As you drive along, you will surely pass horse-drawn buggies and people on bicycles, because this area is home to many of Ohio’s Amish and Mennonite families. According to... Read more
Misunderstood Lyrics This morning Marty played “Wonderful Peace” for the offering in church. It’s an old, traditional chorus that always makes me smile for more than just its lovely, devotional feel. You see, back in the day when we always sang that as a chorus in church, before there were big screens with lyrics up front, I could never quite understand all the words. Instead of “Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love,” I heard... Read more
A Word of Encouragement God Really Does Intervene Today I am making some plans for our high school seniors’ annual trip. I have been a senior class advisor 18 times in my years of teaching, and although seniors are a lot of work, I love them. In fact, one might say that I feel called to minister to students on the edge of the real world. So today I’m making plans for this year’s trip, and a memory returned. I’d... Read more
Narcissism? 1 Corinthians 13:5b: “Love is not self-seeking.” I’m so sorry, but you are not the center of the universe. These days, it is so easy to get caught up in me, me, me. Second Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP) reminds us that “in the last days, dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant,... Read more
A Time For Love Stories For the past month, most people I know have been watching cheesy, sappy, romantic movies. One can find them 24/7 on Hallmark, Lifetime, on bookstore shelves, all over the place. You know, the Bible is full of great love stories, too. Famous couples include Adam and Eve (well, they didn’t have much to choose from), Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah … the greatest love stories... Read more
Love Songs, Love Letters, and Musical Messages What is more romantic than a love letter? What is more romantic and intimate than a love song? Combine the two and you have a very emotionally charged situation. All the sappy romantic movies take advantage of music and lyrics that offer an etherial dialogue between the characters. When we hear certain music with or without lyrics, we know what is taking place in the movie. But, as Erin Wathen says in... Read more
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