Faith

Several memories from past Christmas seasons have recently come to mind. My Mom had a habit of wrapping gifts at the last minute. Often, the process happens within hours of a family gathering. We’d see her toss wrapping paper, tape, and bows on her bed, and close the door. It would stay shut until she was finished with the whirlwind wrapping process. Somehow, she was ready when the door swung open minutes before the gift-giving began. I’m still kind of impressed. When I was in 8th grade, I decided to

It’s hard for me to imagine life (even one day) without music. It is a gift from God that speaks deeply to the core of who we are. Music somehow mixes emotion, memories, nostalgia, and our life experiences in a way nothing else does. Hans Christian Andersen said, “When words fail, music speaks.”  I have found that to be true throughout my life and have observed it in the lives of those around me. Christmas has a soundtrack all its own, unlike any other time of the year. Some radio

I have a confession to make. I am not a shopper. If the retailers across the CSRA (or in cyberspace) depended on my dollars to prosper, their outlook would be bleak. Perhaps, it’s because there is nothing I really need and the fact that my wife is very comfortable using her credit card and navigating the aisles and miles in her various shopping endeavors. My contributions are driving her to the stores she chooses and carrying the bags of merchandise once we have returned home. It’s a balanced approach that

Like you, I am battling with some disbelief.  It’s the final month of 2023. Welcome to December! It doesn’t take someone with extraordinary intellect to realize we live in a complex and complicated time. Whether it’s global affairs, politics, the economy, or the price of energy and groceries. There seem to be very few simple solutions to the challenges in the world around us and in our daily lives. So, how do you approach December? With relief that the year is quickly coming to an end? Or with the hope

God-given inspiration is experienced in some very unlikely moments. Seventeen years ago, Adam Anders was visiting with family in Iowa for the holidays. While there, he found himself searching for something to watch that told the Christmas story. He couldn’t find anything. That’s when the idea came to him. Would it be possible to bring the Christmas story to life as a musical? His mind began to race with a myriad of ideas. Much to his wife’s dismay, Anders mentally checked out of that family time and focused on writing

Much of what we learn, growing up is “caught” rather than “taught.” Without a doubt, one of the most powerful and lasting influences and models for us is our mothers. There is also no question that we embrace stories: fiction, non-fiction, historical and biographical. Our world is full of libraries and they are filled with stories. One example, the 223-year-old Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has over 32 million books in its collection. There is power in words and stories often carry lasting impact. We learn and grow through

What risks have you taken in your life? I was giving this some thought the other day. I have been mountain climbing in the Rockies, completed a high ropes course, flown with a 16-year-old pilot in a private plane (yes, just the two of us), helped rebuild homes in India after a Tsunami and been a passenger with my 15-year-old grandson at the wheel who just got his driver’s permit. Although great experiences, I do not feel like any have been particularly risky. I do have several friends who have

It happens almost every anniversary for us and sometimes birthday celebrations as well. I will ask Susie where we were and what we were doing to celebrate the same event the previous year. Many times, it is a struggle for us to remember where we were or how we celebrated, even just a year later. We all exist in a forward-looking, fast-paced culture. As much as we pride ourselves on how quickly we have information available to us and how rapidly we can share it with others, most of us

It seems all too common these days to attempt to divide our lives into segments…. home life/work/faith/school/exercise/recreation/entertainment and so on. Perhaps, it seems like we can manage all the demands and expectations of our lives that way. It’s a “divide and conquer” approach. I’d like to propose a more holistic approach – to understand your life as a single entity with multiple facets. Every part of our lives impacts the other parts. In my life observation and experience, having a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ is the most important