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 »

Well this week it was time to tear down the garden. 🪴 I always enjoy tear-down-the-garden-day — for while I enjoy planting a garden and encouraging things to grow, after a summer of weeding, fertilizing, watering and weeding; I am ready to be with done with it. Did I mention the weeding? Stupid weeds… Our… Read More »

Something happened last week that disturbed me deeply, and for the last several days I have wrestled with whether or not I should write about it in my ponderings.  So, I have reflected… I have prayed… and ultimately decided that I should address it… so here goes… A week ago today, while attending a political… Read More »

There is a really compelling scene in the movie “Superman Returns” that really impacts me every time I watch it (you can find it on YouTube).  Superman takes Lois Lane on a magical ride high up above the city of Metropolis not long after she had written a column in The Daily Planet called, Why… Read More »

In John 1, the author records the events surrounding Jesus’ invitation for some of his followers to become his disciples.  In Jesus’ day, a Jewish Rabbi would extend invitations to people to sit under his teaching and those people would be considered the Rabbi’s disciples.  Disciple literally means student, and these students would learn under… Read More »