They say a dog is a man’s best friend. Maybe I could learn from old Hazzy. He is never critical. He never complains. He is always eager to see me. He loves spending time with me. He never monopolizes the conversation. He’s pretty easy to please with basic things like a walk, food, water, a […]
A Passing Courtesy
Yesterday we laid to rest one of Bethel’s beloved, long-time members. He was a retired educator, named Dave Collins. It was a beautiful autumn day the the funeral procession took the back way to Spring Arbor for the burial. The long procession passed beneath arches of trees yielding their leaves to a gentle wind. The […]
Banana Bread
Sometimes I just crave banana nut bread. I imagine a fresh slice with light butter next to steaming cup of coffee. I give little hints to the ladies about that from time to time. “Sure would love some banana nut bread one of these days.” I frequently say to the girls. Lois always says the […]
Sleeping Under the Stars in a Sailboat
I supposed Robert Norvell to be a pretty no-nonsense character who enjoyed enforcing rules and being in charge. That is why when I discovered he would be in charge of the Northwoods property during our visit I reminded they boys that they would likely have few freedoms or privileges. They were used to fishing all […]
A Boy Again For a Few Minutes
This afternoon I’m gettng ready for a visit from the grand-buddies and grand-princesses so I dug out Uncle Wesley’s genuine Red Ryder BB Gun. For a few minutes this afternoon I was a ten-year-old boy again with the on my neck and the wind in my hair out on Bittersweet Farm. We are going to […]
A Warm Memory of a Cold Morning
Last night was cold and clear. I was driving alone through the night. Driving down an old familiar stretch of road I remembered a frigid morning along that same stretch of road a few years ago. I was driving a car that was new to me. It was very early in the morning and I […]
In the Sunshine of Eternity
Years ago in Ohio I gathered a few couples in the home of a friend once a week and taught them the basic message of the Bible. I explained the gospel and on the last of the six weeks I had our hosts, Dan and Barb Donegan, tell the story of how they came to […]
Conspiracy
[photo credit to Daniel Biferie. His photo of the Brandon churches captures the heart of what I write about here]. I used to shepherd a village church in Ohio. There were two churches in the village, about fifty houses, a general store, a township hall, a cemetery, and a park tucked in the crook of […]
When Wrinkles Discourage You
Jesus said our words reveal the content of our hearts. I was teaching a small class one day when one of the ladies opened her heart in an unusual way and revealed a dark thought that lay in the bottom of her soul. It was troubling. She said; “When my husband left me I had […]
Is Your Heart A Treasure of Good Things? (Video)
Last fall Lois and I did a couples retreat. We opened our hearts and shared 20 treasures from our hearts. (I spoke for both of us–that is the way Lois prefers it in public). This is one of the things I will be doing when we have opportunity to visits churches–sharing the treasures of my […]