I Chase Sunsets. Yes, I still do literally chase sunsets. In my opinion, they are some of the most beautiful manifestations of God’s natural world. I think God is pleased with sunsets, and sunrises, and the beauty of His creation. I really think He is pleased when we acknowledge that beauty. My husband, sister-in-law, friend, and I have been walking for exercise in the afternoon after we finish working. We walk in the cemetery close to our homes.... Read more
Psalm 100 is not only a direction to give thanks, but an awesome invitation. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto... Read more
Veterans Day is a very special holiday to me. My family is full of military veterans. Father, son-in-law, son, and husband have all served in the U S Army. I am so very proud of all of them, but this particular story is my husband’s. He chose a career in which he would often find himself in the valley of the shadow. It was his trust in the God of the promises of the 23rd Psalm that helped him. You... Read more
Be Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak, and Slow to Anger “Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger”—all seems pretty cut and dry. With pride at the root of sin, one can understand why the Holy Spirit through James would write, “Be quick to hear” (for pride values its own way above others), “be slow to speak” (for pride values its own opinion over others), “be slow to anger” (for pride values its... Read more
Searching for the Real Devil The devil. This time of year he seems to be everywhere. People appear to know a lot about him without really knowing a lot about him, and I’m thinking that can be a dangerous thing. Nobody I know really wants to invite him to dinner to start asking questions, though, so how do we figure out who this enemy is? I have begun by collecting a little bit of literary history. By the end, maybe we... Read more
Delayed in Traffic A couple days ago I was on my way to school, running late, driving as much over the speed limit as I could get away with, when up ahead, break lights–lots of brake lights. It seems the company working on repairing the street thought it was a good idea to put cones out at the very time many people who have jobs are headed to work and most people who are involved with education are headed to... Read more
“Where Hope Is”–A Christmas Skit I know! I know! It’s too early for Christmas. However, if you happen to have a group that needs to get a skit together for performance in December, you are probably looking now. Last year, my creative writing class was charged with writing our high school Christmas skit to be performed along with the choir and band concerts. They did some research and realized that they liked the idea in Tolstoy’s short story “Where Love... Read more
Six lessons about spiritual life from applesauce It is the season for apples and there are so many amazing things that can be done with this very versatile fruit–“Apple antics,” if I may quote Mary Alice. Last weekend, my husband and I performed our own yearly “apple antics,” and made applesauce. It is something we have done for years. Honestly, he started the tradition before I ever came on board, but I think it is easier for two... Read more
The Fountain In the Park I was in the city park last week and stopped by the fountain located beside one of the cement walkways that meander through it. Every time I go there, I take pictures. It just seems like the thing to do. You see, this fountain is part of the legacy of my family. My great-grandfather built that fountain in 1935. His first name was Girolamo, but when he came to the United States, he was “given”... Read more
Two Times Twelve Twelve Spies “When Moses sent [the twelve men] to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is... Read more
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