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 […]
Tending the Flowers
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 […]
Jobsworth
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 […]
A Tellin’
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 […]
Mother
“Her children rise up and call her blessed…” (Proverbs 31:28) She dreamed of you from the time she was a little girl cradling a baby doll in her arms. She always saw you playing around the little cottage in her childhood dreams. She carried you in her body and you made her sick every morning […]
Something I Needed to See
I have something wrong with my ankle. It may be broken, but it is probably a damaged ligament or bone chip. The doctor ordered a MRI, so we should know later this week. It has forced me off my feet. I have to walk on crutches. I find myself envying people who can just stride […]