Tomorrow, half our nation will rejoice when a new President will be sworn into office while the other half will mourn. Although many are disgusted with our new leader, this is not the first time nor is it likely the last. We do pray for healing and unity in our…
We’ve had our first snowfall of the New Year here in the Valley, and if all the rest are like the first one, we should be in good shape. Aside from a few minor fender benders and school cancellations, we escaped relatively unscathed. I’m also thankful that I didn’t have…
Every morning when I leave my home to head to work, I have to turn right out of my driveway onto Sherman Road. It may not seem like a very big deal and by now it has become a habit, but the necessity of doing so each day is still…
As we prepare to kiss 2016 goodbye and welcome in the New Year, exercise and diet commercials abound. Several of us are carrying a few extra pounds away from the holidays and will be looking for ways to leave them behind come January, and many retailers are anxious to help…
Although my grandfather, Beecher Bowers, died when I was fairly young, I was fortunate to have heard some of his stories before he passed away. One of those was about the time he was 9 years old and in a one room schoolhouse at Pugh’s Run. He shared with me…
One Christmas, many years ago, I received a very special gift. As I was preparing for four years at Virginia Tech, I opened a package that contained a beautiful orange and maroon comforter with cross-stitched university symbols sewn into it. My parents and siblings had worked on this project secretly…
As we approach Election Day next Tuesday, many Christians are discouraged about our two options for President. Neither candidate reflects the beliefs that most of us could enthusiastically support. Faced with this dilemma, some are considering sitting out this trip to the polls and simply not voting at all. Let…
Almost a year ago now, Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, ruthlessly massacred 14 of their fellow human beings and seriously injured 22 more in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. Many of us watched this horrific drama play out on our televisions as the perpetrators were pursued…
As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, the trees begin to take on a new glory all their own. From the brilliant red Dogwoods and Gums to the yellow Hickories and Poplars to the orange Sassafras and Maples, the woodlands become God’s palette of perfection. We can…
Colorful leaves and cooler temperatures both remind us that the warm days of summer are in our rearview mirror for another several months. Crisp nights make us appreciate our warm beds and comfortably heated homes. The approach of winter should also remind us of those who don’t have the basic…