~by Corey Fields It would be so much more convenient if children did things on a schedule. I don’t mean things like eating. We do that on a schedule (well, sometimes). I don’t mean things like church. We do that on a schedule. Waking up, going to bed, practicing piano…all on a schedule. The things … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2016
Blessed are the Peacemakers
By Donald Hanna At my church, our worship services often lament the violence in the world – the conflict in Syria, the terrorist attacks that have captured the hearts and minds of the world recently, police violence highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement, domestic abuse, and so on. It can seem that almost anywhere we turn our … Continue reading
John 14: Peace Like a Rock
by Arianne Braithwaite Lehn Scripture: John 14:23-29 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, … Continue reading
Parenting Shoulds
~by Joanna Harader Many years ago, I wrote a humor piece for a local parenting magazine about how much I loved other people’s babies—the ones I could cuddle and smell and then give back when they got fussy or smelly. One angry reader wrote in to say that if I hated children so much I … Continue reading
On John 13, and How to Fall in Love
by Jennifer DiFrancesco Prayer Living God, Remind us that the Good News is so magnificent that we can’t completely understand it. Open our hearts this day that what our minds cannot comprehend can be received deep within our spirit. Amen. Scripture: John 13:31-35 (Common English Bible Translation) When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the … Continue reading
Bedtime, Prayer Time, and Frito Cravings
Maybe you know this scenario: It’s 8:30pm on a school night. You’re just getting the last kid into bed. She’s exactly 30 minutes past her usual bedtime, she’s already had a solid 30 minutes to read and her mother is solidly ready for lights-out so that she can plop onto the couch with some Fritos … Continue reading
What I Learned from my Cancer Diagnosis
–This post is from Julia Roller, and is re-posted from her blog. I was 39 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with breast cancer last October. I’m not sure what (or who) exactly caused me to ask my nurse-practitioner to do a breast exam at my OB-GYN appointment. At the time it felt like part … Continue reading
Acts 9: Same Name, New Life
by Joe Greemore Scripture Reading: Acts 9:36-43 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. … Continue reading
Sweetness is Finite
~by Christine Gough After two months of immersion in something slightly embarrassing (binge watching the entire Gilmore Girls series), I am finally pulling myself out of hiding and rejoining life. With the end to Gilmore, Season 7, Episode 22, I am able to dig back into reading. Many library holds went unchecked out or ended … Continue reading
Failing Lent
–By Joanna Harader As a parent, I failed Lent this year. Or I suppose a gracious professor might give me the “at least she tried ” D. I did order and even print “An Illustrated Lent” family devotional. It looks very nice and impressive in my three-ring binder. We actually did the devotions on two, … Continue reading
Practicing Families 