Last year I spoke at Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids. Monday Hannah and Daniel moved onto campus and joined the class of 2014. We like them being together and we like them being close to the family. It’s sad to see Wes and Dan separated. They have been inseparable buddies for years.
We bought them a few things they would need over their continual objections. They thanked us over and over again for the few simple things we did buy. As the sun set we prayed through happy tears, …

I love the idea of having 24-hour road service. There are five women in our home and I don’t want any of them ever to be stranded on a dark and lonely stretch of road. I don’t want my sons stranded either. Dan was on the way to church the other day and the Jeep died—just stopped running. He had barely rolled to a stop when Steve Massengill, one of the men of our church—rolled up in his pick-up and offered roadside assistance. Sunday night he offered to help me …

This summer God has been doing something in my heart. I spent most of five weeks of the summer with teens. Neighborhood Gospel Outreach and Cola Wars week was toward the beginning of the summer. Teen Bash, VBS, and Commmunity Celebration week was later in the summer. I spoke to Sr. High teens for a week at Lake Ann. I led a missions trip of 9th and 10th graders for a week to northern Michgian, and last week I spoke to Sr. High teens for a week at Camp Barakel. …

I injured my ankle badly early this summer. Last summer I was training for a marathon. My long runs were up to seventeen miles. This summer I have not run a step. For weeks it was difficult or impossible to walk. In the morning I have an appointment to run at sunrise in the Lower Huron Park. I’m looking forward to getting some cool morning air in my lungs. …OK. Now I’m back from my run. The drive over to the Lower Huron Park was beautiful this morning. A …

In September we hope to be in Kentucky for our family vacation. We usually sing on the street in Lois’ home town of Campton. We always visit Hoe Down Island and Miguel’s Pizza. We would never, never think of visiting the Bluegrass without drinking Ale-8. Usually we drive through the Red River Gorge. I like to get up early when I can and take a hike somewhere in the beauty of the mountains and gorges.
I can’t articulate all the reasons why, but I have always loved to read Wendell …

Well, now I’ve just laid down the Saturday paper in disgust. Yet another scandal in high places. This time military leader had been exposed for wrong-doing after 26 years of service to God and his country. He is the second-ranking officer out at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida. He was up for a second star but the Senate did not act on his promotion. Seems that his darker side has now come to the surface and now he has to …

Mercer Chapel on Spring Road was a little white-frame community church. Like thousands of others, a fixture of the American countryside. Set in a cemetery, its patriarchs and matriarchs slept near by. It was a pleasant slow-paced congregation. Volleyball league and Ladies’ Aid. Strawberry suppers and ice-cream socials. Pot-luck dinners and Class parties. Christmas pageants and Easter bonnets. Good cooks and farm kids. American Traditional. Sort of a Norman Rockwell print.
The people were good to us. Elmer Brown introduced me to “punkin’ blossoms.” His wife Edith worked at the phone …

Dave was working in the flower garden at the church this week. When I saw him there it touched me. It reminded me of a day last summer. I’d been out making some calls and I was walking back into the church with a bottle of water. It was a warm, sunny day. The inner study where I do most of my work has a high, arched window. Marlene was on her knees tending the flowers outside my study window. I said; “Thanks so much for what you are doing. …

According to Wikipedia a jobsworth is a person who uses his for her job description in a deliberately uncooperative way, or who delights in acting in an obstructive or unhelpful manner. Sometimes I have used term “gatekeeper mentality” to describe this irritating attitude.
Last week we travelled with a group of young people from Evangel to northern Michigan to assist a small church in conducting a Vacation Bible School. One evening we grabbed some flyers and gathered the team into a van to canvass a small trailer park to invite children …

Amish people are just people and the world over people are a lot alike, including Amish people. But the Amish do have some unique ways. Most Amish people don’t have televisions, radios, VCRs, DVDs, computers, iPods, iPads, and other electronic do-dads. Of course, you know, they don’t have cars, ether. One of the things they do when the work is done and the supper dishes are clean is tell stories. They have a simple name for an evening of stories. They say “Tonight we a going to have a tellin’.” …