Rooted in Memories

I can tell Christmas is coming by the flood of magazines in my mailbox. Everyone wants a little piece of my holiday spending, and they try all kinds of tricks to persuade me to buy their merchandise. This week, a magazine boasted personalized needlepoint stockings, just like grandma used to make, alongside the words, “ThinkContinue reading “Rooted in Memories”

Replacing Foolish Talk

If I’ve talked to you recently, we probably talked about the weather, the holidays, our children, or maybe tips and tricks for household tasks. I might have told you about the latest happenings around my house, and maybe you told me about the funny thing your grandchild did last week.  None of our conversation wasContinue reading “Replacing Foolish Talk”

Attentive Hearkening

The older I get, the more my hearing is impaired by background noise. Noisy rooms are the worst, and if I am nodding and smiling at you, you can be fairly confident that I can’t hear what you’re saying.  Ephesus was a noisy city.  Besides the regular hustle and bustle of city life, there wasContinue reading “Attentive Hearkening”

Whose Weapons are These?

While cleaning the garage recently, I threw a handful of sticks out into the side yard. My youngest son yelled in protest, “Those are my weapons!” I tried explaining that they were only sticks, but he carefully explained how they were daggers and arrows and scimitars. I tried a different tack. “They are not sharpContinue reading “Whose Weapons are These?”

Marching Orders

I knew the dictionary definition of prostitution. I just wasn’t prepared for the delusion that came with it. “And then, I bought him for the drugs he could give my friend,” she said. I had questions: “Bought him? With money?” Giggles. “No.” I said gently, “It sounds like he bought you.” “Oh no. I definitelyContinue reading “Marching Orders”

Too Much Jesus

At what point do you become a fanatic? In the nineties, D.C. Talk sang about Jesus Freaks. In the 2000’s, medical missionary Kent Brantly contracted ebola while sharing the Gospel with patients in Liberia. Just this year, an entire North Korean family, including their two year old, was imprisoned for owning a Bible. These seemContinue reading “Too Much Jesus”

Daily

When I go out each morning to start my day and feed my animals, I often view it as just routine. However, my cats, dogs, and chickens view it as the time during the day when they will receive the sustenance they need to go about their daily routines.  The cats wait for me inContinue reading “Daily”

Throwing Stones

I teach my kids that it is never okay to throw rocks at passing cars, but the other day, I picked up a rock to chunk at oncoming traffic. I live on a dirt road where there isn’t much coming or going, but as I was walking, a little white pickup truck barreled down theContinue reading “Throwing Stones”