Tag: prayer
Open a New Window
When I was in high school, one of the musicals we performed was Mame. The play and musical are based on the story of Patrick Dennis’ eccentric aunt who must raise her nephew after his parents die. One of the songs that explains Mame’s philosophy of life is called Open a New Window. The song… Continue Reading Open a New Window
Alphabet Soup
We are drowning in acronyms. There are too many abbreviations in our language. I began using them when I was in high school during my training to be a Nurse’s Assistant. One of my main responsibilities was recording vitals for patients. Since all medical records were written back then, shorthand codes were a must. BP… Continue Reading Alphabet Soup
The Never-Ending Story
There are phrases and sentences which have become classic. We may not remember how some of them became part of our lexicon. Others take us back to the moment we saw the movie, read the book or first heard the song. One of my favorite movie phrases is “A long time ago, in a galaxy… Continue Reading The Never-Ending Story
What Just Happened?
Australia has been battling the most devastating wildfires in recent history. On Sunday evening our time, the Australian Open, the first major tennis tournament of the year began. The usual contenders are present along with some new faces. Most of them are focused on the game, hoping to hold the championship trophy in a little… Continue Reading What Just Happened?
New Year’s Resolutions
Every year at this time, we take stock of what didn’t happen last year and commit to a better start for the next 365 days. They are called New Year’s resolutions. Some are about changing habits that lead to a healthier, smarter, and less cluttered lifestyle. Many of our advertisers take advantage of this with… Continue Reading New Year’s Resolutions
The Birth of a King
I lived in Memphis, Tennessee for several years. There were two dates that, as a resident, I dreaded. One was August 16, and the other was January 8. For those of you who are not Elvis Presley fans, the August date was his death and today is his birthdate. Had he lived, Elvis would be… Continue Reading The Birth of a King
Advent Calendar, Part 3
In the Crawford household, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the cookies. My sister’s favorites were Russian Tea Cakes and Thumbprint. Mine were Sugar Cookies, rolled out and cut with the star, bell and angel cookie cutters. My mom would always buy more tins of red and green sugar, even if we still had some left… Continue Reading Advent Calendar, Part 3
An Advent Calendar, Part 2
Christmas isn’t Christmas without decorations. Whether you start trimming the tree on Christmas Eve, or the day after Thanksgiving, there is a time of celebration about transforming our homes to welcome baby Jesus. The lights always take the longest to hang. Each year I debate just buying a new string, rather than trying to figure… Continue Reading An Advent Calendar, Part 2
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God (KJV)
As this year’s Church Conference season draws to a close, I want to express my gratitude for all that I have learned through my time with you in the District. I am excited by the ways so many churches are in mission and ministry, connecting to the people in their communities and truly making a… Continue Reading Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God (KJV)
And Now for Something Completely Different
During my Christian Education course in Seminary, I was introduced to 3 books which have become a part of my spiritual disciplines. They are Imaging the Word, Volumes 1-3. Each volume contains art, poetry, photographs and musical compositions about what it means to be a child of God. First Place, where the Midwest District Office… Continue Reading And Now for Something Completely Different