Some Books Can Kill You
Last week, librarians in Denmark learned that three of their books from the 15 and 1600s could easily kill them. While using x-rays to examine the composition of the inks used, they discovered instead that the covers of these books had very high levels of arsenic. Best known, perhaps, for…
Thank God for Do Overs
One hundred and fifty-five years ago, on July 3, 1863, Confederate Major General George Pickett led an ill-fated assault on Union lines at Gettysburg. Acting on orders from General Robert E. Lee, Pickett and his men charged over open fields attempting to take the high ground from their enemies. Instead…
On Eagle’s Wings
On Wednesday of next week, America will celebrate its 242nd birthday. Most will have a day off to picnic, swim, and enjoy fireworks. As we mark this milestone in our nation’s history, it’s a great time to pause and consider God’s creative genius demonstrated in our national bird, the Bald Eagle. …
God Abundantly Provides For Us
In the mid-1990s, I was fortunate enough to have Sonny Tamkin build me home. He gave it a sturdy cinder block and brick foundation and constructed the living space of 2 x 4s, plywood, and drywall on top of 2 x 12 floor joists and topped it off with custom…
God Uses Our Kiln Times
Most of us don’t think much about where or how our bricks are made, we just enjoy them on our homes, schools, and businesses. For many years, however, bricks were often manufactured close to where they were actually used and Shenandoah County had several such operations. According to county historian,…
God Assigns Our Seats
June is wedding month and nuptial vows are being pledged and recited all over the Valley these days. Thankfully, the weather promises to be a little better this weekend than last and those who have planned outdoor celebrations will hopefully be able to see their dreams come to fruition. Modern…
Lessons From Our Battlefields
In just a few days, we will observe the 74th anniversary of D-Day, the incredibly heroic and courageous invasion of the beaches of Normandy by US and other Allied troops that turned the tide of World War II and eventually resulted in the defeat of Adolf Hitler. We are fortunate enough…
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…