On Wednesday night I watched the news feed concerning the midair collision of an Army Blackhawk helicopter with an American Airlines CR700 passenger jet. For a time, there was some brief hope that there might possibly be survivors, but eventually we learned that all 67 people were lost. My heart ached for the families that… Read More »

Can you imagine what life was like for Joseph? We read about his life in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s father Israel (Jacob) sure had made plenty of blunders in life, and perhaps his greatest was the way he favored Joseph over his other brothers. Why? Well apparently because Joseph made him a fancy robe (37:3). Talk… Read More »

Sanctity Of Life Day In Jeremiah 19 the Israelite people had strayed far from God. Through the prophet Jeremiah God sent warning after warning that the people needed to turn back to worship Him — the one true God. Finally God’s patience runs out and Jeremiah brings this prophetic word against Israel: (3) “‘Hear the… Read More »

Winter. Winter in Northern Ohio means cold… and windy. I admit it… and I’ve mentioned it before — I am a sissy for cold weather. I just don’t know if I would make it in Minnesota. I remember visiting my grandparents home in western Pennsylvania during winter as a kid and almost experiencing heat stroke… Read More »

So much hate. Our world knows so much hate. I have grieved for 14 innocent people run down by a hate-fueled person in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve. Just days ago, ten teenagers were wounded in Queens when a gunman opened fire. Not long ago, teachers and students were killed in a school shooting… Read More »

I caught myself doing it last week. I catch myself doing it more times than I care to admit and it seems like Christmas is when I am reminded of it the most. Sometimes when I catch myself in the moment; I can react quickly enough to avoid it, but other times despite my best… Read More »

So… how is your Christmas shopping going? I just started mine on Friday. I am being completely honest when I say that Christmas is the only time that actually enjoy shopping. I love picking out gifts for those I love. Which do you prefer, giving gifts or receiving gifts? I definitely enjoy giving gifts over… Read More »

Have you ever noticed how much of our entertainment centers around conflict?  Star Wars is a galactic conflict.  Lord of the Rings is a Middle Earth conflict.  The Star Trek sagas — conflict.  The Walking Dead — Zombie conflict.  Game of Thrones… well… I’ve never actually seen that but it SEEMS to be full of… Read More »

Our little city is famous… yep… recorded right there on the state government page of Ohio city nicknames is: Willard: City Of Blossoms. I guess a city nickname is supposed to represent a distinctive of the city. If you show up at just the right time at our church — usually some time around the… Read More »

I love the movie City Slickers. Have you ever seen it? Three friends take a vacation to be cowboys on a cattle drive. There is a really compelling scene in the movie where the three friends are sharing about what was their very best day and what was their worst day. When Billy Crystal’s character… Read More »