Tag Archives: Suffering

Playing in Plum Creek

Years ago, an old farmer was attending our church. He saw my baby, and he asked me how I would have liked to give birth underground in a sod hut in winter. I shook my head. That sort of roughing it isn’t for me. It was hard enough to have a baby in winter withContinue reading “Playing in Plum Creek”

Taking the Pain of the People

Being a witness to suffering is suffering itself.  Holding your child down on a hospital bed so that medical professionals can help them doesn’t make the pain easier.  Helping at the site of a car accident leaves you feeling shaken and helpless.  Hearing the wailing of a bereaved spouse, parent, or child echoes through heartsContinue reading “Taking the Pain of the People”

Easter Everyday

In Paul’s last letter, he wrote to Timothy, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” Tradition has it that Paul was beheaded by Nero because of his faith in Jesus. And it does seem kind of ludicrous, doesn’t it? Is being beheaded coming safely anywhere?Continue reading “Easter Everyday”

Spit on. Struck. Slapped.

Listen HERE There’s an awkward part of Handel’s Messiah where the alto sings, “Despised. Rejected,” over and over. In that section, she also repeats, “He gave His back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair…” It is always a little uncomfortable to think about Jesus having hair on hisContinue reading “Spit on. Struck. Slapped.”

Growing Popcorn

Listen HERE It takes 100 days for popcorn to grow. I planted the seeds in May. I watched the stalks grow throughout June and July. By August 25th, the yellow ears were ready to harvest. My kids helped me take the kernels off about fifty of the cobs, and I couldn’t wait to fry themContinue reading “Growing Popcorn”

Horrible Made Good

I don’t go to Sunday School intending to break up fist fights, but it’s happened a time or two.  After the most recent altercation, one of the offending parties flung himself down on his face in the grass and sobbed, “My life is so horrible!” He detailed the reasons why, and I couldn’t disagree. ThisContinue reading “Horrible Made Good”

Filled with Glory

Listen HERE Have you ever had a keylime bismarck at Devils Lake Doughnuts? If you thought perfectly puffed pastry rolled in powdered sugar couldn’t be improved on, then you haven’t gotten to the keylime pudding in the middle.  When the Apostle Peter wrote to the believers in exile, he reminded them that they should “rejoiceContinue reading “Filled with Glory”