1st Corinthians 12: 12-27 “Who would like to lead us in some Christmas carols?” John, our pastor, stood up front with the microphone, trying to marshal everyone’s attention. It was Christmas Eve, and excitement filled the air. “Joel’s a really good singer,” Amy called out. Joel grinned and walked toward the front of the church. [...]

More magazine, which I enjoy for its insightful articles, has a monthly column: one month it is entitled “This is What 40 Looks Like,” the next, “This is What 50 Looks Like.” It always includes a picture of a beautiful woman and a bio extolling all of the wonderful things her life includes, changing stereotypes [...]

After Wally leaves for work, I bring my Bible, journal, and tea into the garden. A light mist hovers over the fields across the road, and I am surprised to see tender green shoots of corn forming rows where yesterday there was nothing but dirt. All around me, Dame’s Rocket thrusts purple and white spires [...]

Growing up, Christmas was all about the presents piled under the tree. My favorite childhood Christmas was the year I unwrapped a brand-new pair of ice skates, a record player for my collection of 45’s, and “The Complete Sherlock Holmes.” Heaven! I still enjoy prettily wrapped presents under the tree. But these days my favorite [...]

“Our vocation is not only to do what the Word told us to do but also to say what the Word told us to say, until the whole world is transformed by the news.” Barbara Brown Taylor, When God is Silent Is there anything more beautiful than a walk in the woods in the middle [...]