David Kline is an Amish Farmer. He is from Fredricksburg, Ohio. It seems to me that he writes a book about every ten years. I went to sleep last night reading his latest book, Letters from Larksong.
About twenty years ago I found Great Possessions. It was one of my favorite books ever. Ten years ago it was Scratching the Woodchuck. If you want to read David Kline, I would suggest you start with Great Possessions. You will thank me for this recommendation. Great Possessions is a collection of essays …

About to go to bed at the end of a difficult day I did not want my spirit clouded by darkeness so I wrote out this prayer:
“God of Heaven; Make me mighty in spirit so I can inspire others to be mighty in spirit. I would like the gift of a robust spiritual appetite so I will grow into a man with a big, healthy soul. Never allow me to descend to flounder in the foul swamp of pettiness. Help me see beyond the sinfulness of …

Ten inches of snow fell last night from about 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon to about midnight. I had some shoveling to do. There were ten inches in the Granville Cottage driveway.
I dragged my heals getting going reading news on my iPad and then warmed-up the car and went to the gym like a sleigh-ride. When I got home I started clearing the snow. Something about lawn-mowing and snow shoveling clear my mind and stimulate creative thinking like a Venti black brewed Sarbucks coffee with four shots of espresso.
While I was …

Re-post from last Thanksgiving…

Our first-born was here for Thanksgiving Eve. I gave him the pulpit. He brought a brief Thanksgiving message. It was a meaningful message–worth a listen. You can hear it right here:

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Reposted from 2003.
We have had a wonderful week at the Character Inn. The Verity students are arriving from around the country to begin their new term of study. The staff are returning from their holiday. Friday we were preparing for my brother Nathan and his family to visit when I got word that a very special family was stopping by for a visit. Helen and Reinhold Barth, their daughter and two granddaughters wanted to tour the Inn.
I was thrilled. Helen Barth was …

Last week Lois and I enjoyed a quiet autumn drive over to Hillsdale County to visit family. The Interstate near Ypsilanti was backed up. I noticed just in time to take Historic U. S. Route 12. It was the old way between The Windy City and the Motor City. It’s a colorful way I like to drive. It was late afternoon. The angle of the sun toward evening is beautiful this time of year. It was fresh and clear and cool. I knew we would be returning after dark …

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 …

Lois’ homeplace is just a few miles from the vast Daniel Boone National Forest. Even for young, healthy, able-bodied hikers and climbers it can be a dangerous place. Last week a man hiking a path that I have hiked before was attacked and nearly killed by a Black Bear in the Red River George. In September of last year a part-time census worker was hanged with the word FED written on his chest. In the gorge a path that looks like it is leading through the woods may stop abruptly …

“Christianity is an out-of-doors religion. From the birth in the grotto at Bethlehem (where Joseph and Mary took refuge because there was no room for them in the inn) to the crowning death on the hill of Calvary outside the city wall, all of its important events took place out-of-doors. Except the discourse in the upper chamber at Jerusalem, all of its great words, from the sermon on the mount to the last commission to the disciples, were spoken in open air. How shall we understand it unless we carry …

Chuk found this video of our friend Wes Cooper. He taught us fly-fishing. He gave the boys their first fly-tying vice. I added this video and link to the story I wrote about Wes back in 2004. We would often saunter in on Sunday nights and listen to me preach. He is a devoted Christian man.

Longtime Trout Unlimited member Wes Cooper

A few years ago we considered taking up fly-fishing. When we wanted to learn fly-fishing we read about it. The literature on fly-fishing is extensive. The best …