What the World Needs Now

Pastor Faith's newly acquired office boasted wall to wall bookshelves that were more than adequate for all her Bibles, commentaries, and texts. In what I would describe as a divine moment of inspiration, she decided to fill the extra space with a variety of non-perishable foods for local residents who might call for groceries. This …

Blessing Bouquets​​ with a Side of Scones

I am delighted to announce that Jess Critcher of Jess Lauren Florals and Julianna Hritz of Vines Bakery are sprouting a new ministry of community care from the Park Street Community Garden on Park Street in Ashland, Ohio. These two dynamic entrepreneurs will be applying their talents to bless neighborhood folks with flowers and bakery through a …

Do Something Days

Family systems therapist, Dr. Cecil Bergen, was one of the most gifted instructors in my masters of counseling program. Bergen fostered an appreciation for systems theory, helping me to grasp its efficacy for healing groups, dysfunctional families, and struggling marriages. Regarding people in crisis, I'll never forget Bergen leaning forward during a lecture, jabbing his …

What Not to Wear (for Christmas)

Just a few days ago I was bemoaning the fact that I "needed" to come up with not one, but two Christmasy outfits. After all, we would be attending both the Christmas Eve service and Sunday morning worship on Christmas Day. Wanting to be extra-holiday-ish, I complained that I owned only one festive outfit. And …

The Write Stuff

Words on walls are definitely IN with the HGTV crowd, especially with those fine folks from Waco, Texas. (In case you're not a fan, I'm talking decorating shows on cable tv, with a nod to Fixer Upper filmed in Waco.) Not wanting to be a designer groupie copycat, I determined to find a pretty piece …

A Prayer for the New Year

a beautiful prayer to meditate upon for 2016

“Shares Well With Others”

Sharing Jesus