Change is challenging. One year ago, today, we moved into our new home, in a new community, serving a new church. Here were new people to meet, new schedules to learn, and new vision to develop. The routines that brought comfort in our former setting were upended like a child dumping a box of toys on the floor. The change brought some interesting challenges. Much […]
Snow and frigid temperatures make staying indoors very tempting right now. Navigating roads and sidewalks is difficult, if not dangerous, and the windchill makes your skin hurt. There is nothing inviting about these times. The stark cold and snow, along with overcast skies, can be discouraging and depressing. Curling up and waiting for it all to pass seems like a natural thing to do. Looking […]
There is nothing quite like knowing you are on your way! There is a sense of excitement and joy that comes from each new beginning in our lives. We feel things begin to tremble as we begin to launch and we know that we are underway, something amazing is about to begin. The anticipation is tangible. Even facing some fear and the unknowns, we know […]
Have you ever found yourself searching for just the right thing, yet felt like nothing quite hit the mark? As a foreign exchanges student once said to us, “It’s good, but it’s not the one.” One such search in my life was for a journal that met my needs. As a writer, observer, and life-long learner, I find journals a valuable aid to capturing the […]
Yesterday, I announced that I was being appointed to another church. The congregation I serve did not expect that news and a few weeks ago, neither did I. I already indicated my desire to stay where I was and the church shared their hope that I would remain their pastor. We were comfortable with each other and enjoying ministry together, then God stepped in with […]
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” – Proverbs 18:22 Twenty-seven years ago, I awoke in a Pittsburgh hotel a married man. The previous day was a flurry of activity leading up to our wedding, and after celebrating with family and friends, and making time to visit a few of our relatives who could not come to […]
During our honeymoon, my wife asked if we could please include a trip along Skyline Drive in Virginia. It is a beautiful trip through scenic woodlands along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The section we chose was about 15 miles long, and moments after beginning that portion of the trip, I was glad she suggested it. It was beautiful and being there with […]
I love snow. I look forward to it every year, and as I mentioned in a previous post, my family celebrates the first day of snow as a very special day. Not everyone shares our opinion. In fact, every time one of us expresses our love of snow, some of our friends make a point of reminding us of the dangers and challenges snow […]
Thanksgiving is over and the leftovers enjoyed, now we prepare to enter the Advent season and make our way to the great celebration of Christmas. In just four weeks, we will prepare ourselves to experience the power of the greatest gift of God, given two millennia ago, and we make our hearts and spirits ready to welcome the presence of Jesus afresh in our lives […]
“Frequently when I come to a certain part of ‘Our Father’ or to a petition, I land in such rich thoughts that I leave behind all set prayers. When such rich, good thoughts arrive, then one should leave the other commandments aside and offer room to those thoughts and listen in stillness and for all the world not put up obstructions… I have learned more […]