History, Real Life and Faith
I stepped out of my office and my senses sprang to life with memory. I’d left marinara sauce simmering on the stove downstairs, but this pungent aroma differed from the weekly norm. I scurried into the kitchen. “Do you smell it?” I shouted. My puzzled husband nodded. I reached for the spoon to taste. “It’s my grandmother’s sauce!” Something about this sauce touched…
Read More
Is it possible to pass down a blessing–like a blessing from Rev. Charles Spurgeon? Bear with me, even if this is a little fanciful, but it was meaningful to me. There’s a famous story called “Beethoven’s Kiss,” that I’m likening to Spurgeon’s blessing. But first, what is a blessing? The dictionary defines it simply: “pronounced words in a religious rite, to…
Read More
Is it possible to pass down a blessing–like a blessing from Rev. Charles Spurgeon? Bear with me, even if this is a little fanciful, but it was meaningful to me. There’s a famous story called “Beethoven’s Kiss,” that I’m likening to Spurgeon’s blessing. But first, what is a blessing? The dictionary defines it simply: “pronounced words in a religious rite, to…
Read More
Why do we like to read historical fiction? Experts say if you want to learn about political history, read history books. If you want to learn about social history and what life was like at a given time and place, read historical fiction. While I happen to like reading history books, I find most of the fiction I gravitate toward is…
Read More
We put together a blessing box for my niece’s birthday last month. As every blessing box has done in the past, this one moved her deeply. It’s a simple idea that doesn’t cost much (I paid a dollar for the box) in money, but requires a little time, some thought and a willingness to bless someone else. The concept is…
Read More
I had dinner with some homeless people tonight. Our church participates in a program called “nomadic shelter,” which provides a meal, roof overhead and warmth during the winter. Homeless people, in our case working with the local gospel mission, are bused to our church, bringing a minimal amount of their possessions. The gospel mission provides sleeping pads and bedding, as…
Read More