The Pungently Powerful Arbutus!
When my siblings and I were going through mom’s things after her passing, we came across an old booklet she had kept but which we hadn’t seen in many years. The best way to describe it would be as a hybrid between a diary, a journal, and a scrapbook. On…
Exploring Our Spiritual Ancestry
Researching one’s genealogy has become a very popular hobby. It’s fascinating to look back and discover not only who our ancestors were, but how they lived, the challenges they faced, and where and why they moved. With the help of various websites and tests, you can even trace your DNA…
Avoiding Evil’s Appearance
Mother’s Day always brings happy memories for the wonderful blessing of my mom. Although I think of her often, this annual holiday is a special reminder of one of the best gifts God ever gave me. As I’ve shared before, our mother, like many others, was a woman of incredible…
The Miracle of the Israeli Nation
May 14 marks a special day in world history. On that date seventy years ago, a true miracle occurred when Israel was reborn. We should recognize this occasion and celebrate this anniversary with them. In AD 70, the Roman army obliterated Jerusalem following Jewish revolts and uprisings. Determined to prevent…
Little Things Add Up
I love this time of year! The spring flowers are in full bloom, the grass is emerald green, and the birds are bedecked in their finest feathers. Even the trees are blooming to attract pollinators necessary to produce seeds, fruits, and nuts and the recent rains have accelerated the beautification…
Boundary Stones, Witness Trees, and Iron Stakes
I found the article in Monday’s paper about Washington, DC’s boundary stones very interesting. Having just spoken about such things the day before in Sunday worship, it was especially enlightening to see how the early surveyors and planners took great pains to carefully align and place forty rocks around the…
God’s Manufacturing Process
Before becoming a fulltime pastor, I taught Agriculture for fifteen years at Central High School. One of the privileges I had during that time was to take students on various field trips throughout Shenandoah County and beyond. I always believed that students learned more “out there” than they did in…
Who Are We Pleasing?
Spring Turkey Season in Virginia begins with the special youth days this weekend and the season opens for all next Saturday. I’ve been looking forward to this time for several weeks and am anxiously anticipating listening to one the most awesome sounds in the Virginia woodlands: a wild turkey’s gobble!…
God’s Triple Play
Spring Training is over and the 2018 Major League Baseball season is underway! The boys of summer have begun their pitching, catching, hitting, and running and the first games are already in the books. This year’s edition of America’s favorite pastime has officially begun! The fascination with baseball has held…
Gethsemane’s Crushing Press
As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, our thoughts should also involve the events leading up to it as well. It is impossible to have a resurrection without a death and that’s why we must pause at the cross before rushing to the empty tomb. Looking ahead 800 years to…