I've been scanning old documents into my computer. Some of them have been personal documents. For example, I was re-reading a seven-page summary I did of my family's trip to Europe. The summary, along with photos, was sent to all the family members we had visited during our nine-week trip. I was 11 when I wrote it. I do remember writing and typing it. Apparently, I didn't know how to spell cathedral because it was consistently spelled Cathredral. Bless my parents who left it with all it (surprisingly few) typing errors. And, apparently, I had a sarcastic streak to my writing even then. At the end of our trip, we spent a few days in New York: "That afternoon we went through St. John the Divi
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8 Have you ever been asked: “what are your strengths?” How have you answered this question? Perhaps you answered with the first thing that popped into your head, or perhaps you tailored your answer to fit the interviewer. Perhaps you immediately knew your answer or perhaps you took some time to come to the answer…and perhaps you are still thinking. Knowing our strengths not only help us understand who we are, but it al
One of the podcasts I listen to is hosted by a conservative southern Christian. He has been really out-of-sorts since March when states and cities wouldn't allow churches to open for worship. He's out-of-sorts about wearing masks, telling businesses they can't operate, closing schools, etc. But he's REALLY out-of-sorts about being told he can't go to church. He declares day after day that church is an essential service. The government has no legal right to prohibit the free exercise of our faith. The Bible tells us we must worship regularly with each other. Why should you be able to wander the aisles of Walmart with several hundred other people, but not be allowed to attend a church service
While away, I still tuned into the news. I sometimes wonder why I would do that, but I always feel it best to know at least a bit about what is going on around the world, the nation, and here. Obviously, COVID was the leading story - New Zealand eradicated the disease and is starting to go back to things as they were. Europe is closing its borders to nations that are allowing the virus to go unchecked. And here at home, we are debating if we can require people to wear masks. In fact, a portion from one of our advisory council meetings was dedicated to this conversation. The advisory council and the church council unanimously agreed that for any person to be in the church at any time they mus
