Ripped Apart (Happy 2025, Ugh) 15 January 2025 We were shocked. Our three-year old rescue dog, Breezy, has proven an exceptionally well-behaved canine. Even in her first year with us, she only chewed up two little items before figuring out what was kosher for gnawing. So, when I came home from church two Sundays ago, LuAnne broke the news to …
Thank You President Carter 8 January 2025 Regardless of evaluation of Jimmy Carter as a politician, most Americans treasure President Carter’s example as one of our country’s finest citizens. As Christians, there are not too many Jesus-followers who argue that he wasn’t a shining light and exemplar of our faith well-lived. Soon after arriving in Georgia, many COS friends advised me …
A Dazzling Dozen 18 December 2024 What’s your favorite (or least favorite) Christmas carol? A top answer to both questions is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” You should have heard our Hops & Hymns crew belt it out at Line Creek Brewery two Sunday nights ago! Even if one groans when invited to sing along, the story behind the song …
Should We Go? An Update on the Pastoral Search Process 11 December 2024 Should we go? Mary and Joseph knew Emperor Augustus issued a census decree requiring them to travel to Bethlehem to be counted. But “should we go? Should we really risk the trip when Mary is so far along in her pregnancy?” The shepherds heard the dazzling angelic …
Would the Real St. Nicholas Please Stand Up? 4 December 2024 Trivia Question #1: If there really was a Saint Nicholas, he a. Worked in the reindeer ministry b. Didn’t grow up in Europe c. Attended services only on Christmas d. Didn’t trust organized religion but loved to pray while sledding on snowy days Trivia Question #2: If there really …
Gobbling Gratitude 27 November 2024 Dear Fellow Turkeys, Gobble Gobble. What if a turkey translator revealed “gobble gobble” meant “grateful, grateful”? Then turkeys would be some of the happiest creatures around, gobbling gratitude wherever they go. For in our gratitude, we experience peace, perspective, and positivity. Scripture states, “from the rising of the sun to the going down of the …
Trifecta of Trials (They Come in Threes) 20 November 2024 There’s an old adage that bad luck comes in sets of three. Such was the case for my wife LuAnne. A few weeks back, we were traveling on the highway when the car in front of us swerved violently to the left. Immediately, we viewed why. Several large pieces of …
Squeeze 13 November 2024 The strongman at a circus squeezed the juice from a lemon between his hands. He then shouted to the audience, “I will offer $200 to anyone in the audience who can squeeze another drop from this lemon. A thin scholarly looking woman came forward, picked up the lemon, strained hard and managed to get one, two …
Enjoy a Laugh 6 November 2024 As I write this on Sunday, I don’t know who will win the election. Or I might say, “has won,” as you read this on Wednesday. Regarding the election results, about half of you are feeling pleased. The other half discouraged. As I wrote to you in my “Will You Be OK?” WFW on …
Once and Never Again? 30 October 2024 How many tasks in your life would you love to do once and never again? I wish I could eat one plate of broccoli to magically ingest all the vita mins my body will require for the rest of my life and never eat broccoli again. I wish I could floss my …
