What Game Wardens and God Have In Common
Tomorrow ushers in another firearms season for whitetail deer in most of the Valley. Muzzleloading season in Shenandoah County officially begins one half hour before sunrise Saturday morning and will continue until one half hour after sunset on November 18. How do I know that? Because I read it in…
Flowery Bookends Of A Beautiful Marriage
Tomorrow would have been our parents’ seventy-second wedding anniversary. They are now both in heaven and although they didn’t get to enjoy that many anniversaries here on earth, they did celebrate 58 of them together. As I shared a while back, my siblings and I came across one of mom’s…
The Scariest Story of All
As we approach Halloween, we are reminded of frightening stories told around campfires that kept us awake for many nights to come, but few mastered horror and plot twists as well as Alfred Hitchcock. He is considered by many to be the father of the horror movie genre. In his…
Hospitality Opens Doors of Blessing For Us!
One of the stories buried deep in Genesis is the one where Rebekah offers a drink to a total stranger. Little does she know he is seeking a wife for the son of wealthy Abraham. In great hospitality, she offered and drew water for his camels as well. Rebekah also…
Sculpting Saints From Scrap
Many readers are familiar with Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of the Biblical David which still stands in Florence, Italy. It is viewed by many as an artistic masterpiece that has survived earthquakes, riots, lightning strikes, vandals, and every outdoor statue’s worst enemy: pigeons. What many do not know is the incredible…
Searching For The God Who Is
One of the benefits of traveling is learning about other cultures. While Nancy and I were in Hawaii earlier this year, we learned a good bit of its history that has helped make the Hawaiians who they are today. Prior to Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778, the Hawaiians had no…
Salting Our Lives and Our Culture
It’s that time of year again! As temperatures drop and the days shorten, that can only mean one thing: hunting season is near! Squirrel and dove hunters have already started and archery season for big game begins next week. September and October were busy months in my Dad’s taxidermy shop…
Big Trees and Big Opportunities
I have always loved trees. I’m not sure where this affinity came from, but perhaps it was part of the outdoors package handed down from my father and older brothers. I remember when training for the FFA Forestry Contest how proud I was to identify some trees they could not.…
Anticipating The Most Wonderful Trip
Nancy and I were fortunate to enjoy a recent trip to Hawaii. It was great to finally get away from the frantic pace of normal life and relax a little in a tropical paradise. I thank God for the brief respite and a bit of recharge. Before we left on…
Preparing Our Best Fair Entries
For many in Shenandoah County, next week is crunch week. Young people who are planning to show their livestock at the Fair are making their final preparations, gardeners are selecting their best produce and flowers, and homemakers are baking their best recipes. County fairs are special times in our valley…