A couple weeks ago, I started Priscilla Shirer’s Gideon study with my ladies’ Bible study group. Although this character has only three short chapters in the book of Judges, he has so much to teach me! And Priscilla Shirer is a whiz at pointing out the commonalities between this meek, insecure Israelite and those of us walking the earth today. …
Sitting is Killing Me
For a lot of us, sitting is an occupational hazard–and I do mean hazard. More and more research is coming out about the health risks of sitting for extended periods of time. When I was raising my kids, this wasn’t an issue. When I worked at my own housecleaning business, this wasn’t an issue. When I taught school… You get the point. …
Reader Beware
I’m going to admit it straight up—if you’re a fan of Sarah Young’s devotional Jesus Calling this post may not be well received. My sweet aunt gave me a copy of this book more than two years ago, and until recently, I read it daily. There were times when some of the wording Mrs. Young used made me slightly uneasy, …
Fresh Start
I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions–why wait until January 1st if changes need to be made? But I see the value in reassessing the past year and making goals for the upcoming one. Although, now that I think about it, I didn’t even do that until I married Chris. He’s a list guy. You know the type. Even …
Merry CHRISTmas
Every Christmas season I step onto my soapbox as I get disgusted by how the world is quickly chipping away the meaning of Christmas. I used to wonder how anyone can celebrate Christmas, yet keep Christ out of it entirely. Sadly, our culture has devised a way. We’ve changed Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays and the Christmas tree to the …
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
Okay, it’s twelve minutes–or more precisely, four segments of twelve. I was honored to be interviewed on a local television show Author’s, Books & Beyond. The host of this program is fellow writer, Kathy Boyd-Fellure. It’s been a few weeks since it aired, and it’s taken me this long to get up the gumption to share a portion of it with …
Is Santa Claus Real?
The other day I was pondering the traditions of Christmas—such as Santa Claus and Christmas stockings. How did the birth of Jesus morph into these seemingly disconnected symbols? Of course, I knew Santa Claus was also known as St. Nicholas and he was canonized a saint (by whomever claims such authority) because of his generous acts. But there are many …
The Race Card
I’m confused. How can the looting of businesses and destruction of private property in Ferguson, Missouri be justified? I understand the frustration and anger of a community that feels justice didn’t prevail in the grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager by white police officer, Darren Wilson. Because I wasn’t in the court room, …
I Yam What I Yam
I’m impatient, stubborn, judgmental and insensitive. And, I’m harder on myself than others. This is the list of my weaknesses for my Myers-Briggs personality type: ISTJ. I’d love to say that I don’t fit the type—that the test was inaccurate. Sadly, that would be a lie. Oh, and I’m a buy-the-book person—I follow rules to a T and live in …
Neon Steeples
I can’t sing. Or more accurately, I can’t sing well. However, it doesn’t stop me from trying. I belt out the worship songs at church or with the radio when I’m alone in my car (it’s all joyful to God, right?) And when I can’t help myself, I’ll even sing at times when my husband’s with me. I think it’s …