Can you imagine missing Christmas? With a commercial reminder of this most popular holiday every few minutes, how could anyone possibly miss Christmas? Maybe if you were on a desert island without ads or electronic devices, missing the festivities could be possible....
Imagine a stranger from a far away land coming to America this December. Imagine their curiosity as they observe the excitement in the air, decorated trees brightly lit, and people rushing around to buy presents for one another. What would they think of the special...
As a parent of young kids, I do my best to raise them with an understanding of Jesus and to teach them to make good decisions. But I find myself asking, how do you really do that with a three year old? While I was pondering this thought, I started thinking about all...
Over the last month, I’m sure you were asked, “What are you thankful for?” or saw posts on Facebook about what others are thankful for. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to reflect on our lives, those around us, and our family. Plenty to be thankful for! Recently...
On December 21, 1620, after a very difficult 66 day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, William Bradford wrote in his memoirs, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, we fell upon our knees and blessed God in heaven, who had brought us over the...
We have all heard the term “environmental footprint” or “carbon footprint” used over the last several years. It has become mainstream to look at how our lives and the way that we live them impact the environment. There is nothing wrong with being great stewards of...
Have you ever watched a good sized fire burn? I mean a big, roaring, too hot to get close to bonfire? I lit one this evening. It was a perfect night for it. I decided to burn some wood that the city wouldn’t pick up along with some old bills and other things. I...
We all face choices in life. Some things are easy, while others are hard. Many of the situations we find ourselves in come directly from our choices and sometimes, it’s difficult to take the responsibility. For example, we may choose to eat foods that are unhealthy,...
When hope can be established in someone’s life; whether it is through life saving medicine in a third world country, clean drinking water, relief from a war or simply an encouraging word letting them know you care; it opens the door for God to move. You see, when a...
Over the last couple of years, my perception of Doubting Thomas has dramatically changed. I now view Thomas as one of the most identifiable relatable characters in the New Testament. The Thomas that I have come to know is a lot more like me than I would’ve imagined....
A little girl lived alone with her mother. They scrimped by, living day to day on her mother’s meager wages from waitressing. The little girl loved her mother and wanted to give her a gift for her birthday. She went to a nearby pawn shop where she saw a string of...