It happened on a morning hike a few years ago. Walking my usual trail, I slow up to gaze around me. The sun, sneaking through the leaves, sent shafts of light on fallen logs and drying ferns. I smiled and breathed deeply; fall was in the air. Just enough of a chill made me grateful for my sweater. I continued at a gentler pace soaking it all in. I began to wonder exactly why being outside, in the midst of creation, does such incredible things to my mind, body and spirit. A re

Frustration mounts as I swipe the towel across the foggy mirror. My face appears briefly before me as the condensation from the steamy shower covers the glass once more. Again I rub the towel against the surface but this time in a vigorous circular motion. My face reappears, a bit more clearly this time, but still not enough to finish my morning routine as I prepare for the workday. Necessity forces me to abandon my attempt. This is a perfect picture of the verse in I Cor. 13

World cultures have always fascinated me and when my daughters were young, I taught a mission’s class at our church. Each class, we focused on a different area and people group. We learned a bit about where they lived, how they lived, their native language and the missionaries we supported there. Awareness of people different from ourselves is crucial, but the awareness of our unique role in the world is maybe more crucial. I’ve seen many individuals lose their way and fall i

I started off a message once with a grammar game. I suspect most of you are thinking that the words grammar and game should not be used in the same sentence unless separated by the words “is not a”. I’m no grammar expert or enthusiast but it worked wonderfully as an object lesson and ice breaker. After a brief recap on identifying a noun as a person, place, thing, or idea, I asked for audience participation and began the game with a list of nouns to which my very sharp cong