All About Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’s a day people either love or hate, depending on their personal perspectives. A largely commercial holiday, Valentine’s Day emphasizes dates, flowers, candy, and honoring loved ones. While traditionally a day focused on the love between romantic couples, modern expansions also include love between family and friends. Many wonder, though, how did love become associated with Valentine’s Day? What do the two have in common, and how do they overlap. Does it have anything to do with... Read more

More Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went into Ministry

February 7, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

In part 1 of this series on ministry, I discussed eight specific things I wish I’d known before going into ministry. As I stated, I didn’t know very many people in ministry back then and I went in rather wide-eyed and unassuming. To say the “human component” of ministry was sometimes a shock is a bit of an understatement. As one who has spent all of my adult life in ministry, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that God doesn’t... Read more

Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went into Ministry

January 31, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

I’ve spent all of my adult life in Christian ministry. Sure, I have had side jobs and now run companies that I own or cooperatively own with others, but my consistent, primary job has always been ministry. I didn’t know many ministers starting out. As a result, I didn’t know much of what to expect. Like many ministers, I went into ministry wide-eyed and hopeful. I anticipated a life full of meaning and purpose, expecting God to work everything out... Read more

The Story Behind Ten Favorite Hymns

January 24, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll note I occasionally ask everyone about their favorite hymns. As much as I love the modern Christian worship scene (and many others do, as well), there’s something special and timeless about our favorite hymns. The long-held tradition of congregational singing inspires a sense of spiritual unity; connection both to God and one another. Far from being boring or tired, the exploration of hymns tells the story of faith. Whether written in times of... Read more

A Crash Course on the Baha’i Faith

January 17, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

January 21 is World Religion Day. If you’ve never heard of this day, you’re not alone. It’s an observance for people of the Baha’i Faith, a religion originating in Persia that now has followers worldwide. The major focus of the Baha’i Faith is religious unity, believing all religions share the same value. World Religion Day acknowledges this value, celebrating their belief in the oneness of all religion and the idea of progressive revelation found therein. In honor of this day,... Read more

Christian Trivia for the Trivia Fan

January 10, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

Do you enjoy the world of trivia? If you’re anything like me, a good trivia game is both exciting and interesting. Learning various facts through the world of trivia tend to stick with us and pop up in conversations later in time. This is also true as people of faith in the world of Christian trivia. Personally, I love Christian trivia – facts of the faith we can drop here and there that help others to learn more about their... Read more

Seven Holidays to Ring in the New Year

January 3, 2024 By Lee Ann B. Marino

New Year’s Day is a universal celebration, passing from one year to another. Common celebrations include fireworks, champagne, kisses at midnight, and midnight countdowns. Did you know that New Year’s Day isn’t the only January 1 holiday? From a number of religious observances to secular themes that embody spiritual principles, here’s a list of seven different holidays that ring in the New Year (other than New Year’s Day). Feast of the Circumcision of Christ The Feast of the Circumcision of... Read more

Eight Facts for Those Who are Not Into Christmas

December 27, 2023 By Lee Ann B. Marino

Statistics cite an overwhelming 88% of Americans celebrate Christmas. More than two billion people worldwide consider it an essential holiday. As people shop, prepare for family visits, and spend excessive amounts of money, it can feel like Christmas is an annual requirement. Those who don’t jump into the holiday with joy can feel left out, even overshadowed. With pressures to participate and a near-societal expectation to engage in Christmas in some form, is Christmas a required holiday? Most who celebrate... Read more

Jesus Breaks Through our Silent Night

December 20, 2023 By Lee Ann B. Marino

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Whenever I hear the term “Silent Night,” I don’t think of the hymn attributed to Martin Luther. A nativity scene isn’t the first thought in my mind. In fact, I don’t think of much of what we often associate with Christmas. I think of the period between December 23, 2018 and January 4, 2019; a very specific time in my life. I didn’t know it at the time, but it would be the beginning of the last four weeks of... Read more

Mary Sings Her Prophetic Song for Us

December 13, 2023 By Lee Ann B. Marino

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“Mary’s Song,” as most Bible headings print in bold font, is Luke 1:46-55. It’s spoken during Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, right after a pregnant Elizabeth feels the soon-to-be John the Baptist stir within her. At this point in the story, both Mary and Elizabeth know they are pregnant with the future; they are literally living – and carrying prophecy. In that moment, full of realization…companionship…and prophecy…Mary speaks. She wasn’t just talking about herself (as some churches surmise); she was also... Read more