In Our Brokenness: The Night Watches

As I lay there in the middle of the night, plagued by pain, fear, and doubt, I had to force myself to stop checking the time. It proved too demoralizing. Endless thoughts swirled through my mind, mostly fears, swooping in like pigeons on newly seeded fields. Would I ever be able walk again and liveContinue reading "In Our Brokenness: The Night Watches"

Our Good Shepherd Knows the Path

Although I love fluffy, woolly sheep, I don't know much about them. Except that they eat a lot and can clear a pasture in a hurry. So a good shepherd knows to keep them moving, always looking for greener pastures. And knowing that the defenseless sheep need protection, he thinks ahead and looks for aContinue reading "Our Good Shepherd Knows the Path"

God Comes Softly, Building in Silence

God's temple was a peculiar building from start to finish. It was the Lord’s own house, planned, directed, and modeled by him. King Solomon built this first earthly building for God, totally dedicated and devoted to his honor. Which granted it a special sort of beauty.  "Solomon’s temple is the most wonderful and interesting buildingContinue reading "God Comes Softly, Building in Silence"

Groundhog Day in Italy

Time seems to fly by, especially as we get older. Since our return to active ministry, the to-do lists get longer, time seems shorter, and some days it's hard to keep up. I can't believe February is almost here. That means many people will be keeping an eye out for groundhogs (marmots) peeking out ofContinue reading "Groundhog Day in Italy"

Buddy, Grandma, and the Cleaning Parties

My maternal grandmother was a wonderful grandma - with a great tolerance for children. Don't get me wrong. I like kids. But not a dozen at a time, which Grandma often endured enjoyed during summer vacations. But then, Grandma was a little crazy, in the best sense of word. She was funny, forgetful, and alwaysContinue reading "Buddy, Grandma, and the Cleaning Parties"