"It wasn't worth it," screeched the commanding officer. But it was. Combat was ferocious, and many soldiers were dying. They were friends in the thick of it. When one of them was injured and couldn't return to the trenches, the other … Read more
It all started in a large store where food products were displayed and samples were made available for the shoppers. I paused to take a sample and got more than I bargained for. A woman there began with this: "I don't know what to get my … Read more
Recently, during a time of reflection regarding the Christmas tree, I read a very interesting study entitled, God's Christmas Tree, written by J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. The premise of the study is that although some may question the … Read more
Perhaps you are familiar with the expression "ear worm". Most of us have experienced an annoying snatch of song that sticks in our memory and plays over and over inside our heads. The refrain from the Christmas hymn *Angels we have heard … Read more
When my sister, Roberta, died of cancer at age 49 in July of 2004, I decided to plant a small mugo pine in our front yard. Like others who have lost loved ones, I wanted to have a living memorial for my sister. I named the mugo pine … Read more
Nelson Mandela was truly one the most influential Christian leaders of our time. "The world has lost one of its great moral leaders and statesmen. He demonstrated that the only path forward for the nation was to reject the appeal of … Read more
'Tis the season of peace and joy. It's Christmas! Yet the tranquility keeps getting interrupted by controversies over the tradition. Ban nativity crèches! Ban carols from our schools! Ban Christmas trees from public buildings! And … Read more
In 1984, Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote a song titled Do They Know It's Christmas? to raise money for the people of Ethiopia who were in dire need due to the famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Many musicians gathered together … Read more
I love Christmas. I haven't loved every Christmas in my life, however. The first Christmas four months after my daughter died in a car accident was a bad one. The Christmas before that, after my husband left, that same daughter wept as … Read more