Why are you cast down, O my soul,    and why are you disquieted within me?                      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,    my help and my God.   (Psalm 42:5)Spera in Deo (Hope in God) is the motto of the college my daughter Heather attended: Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  Their emblem is an anchor, and that image comes from another Bible verse: “We have this hope as an anch...  Read More

Old Caesar started growling into the darkness that cold December night. I keep that dog around because first, we get a little warning whenever some animal might be prowling around at night on the edges of the resting flock, and second, I liked being able to tell ‘Caesar’ to shift his lazy bones or to throw a few scraps at him from our meal at the fire. I am sick of the Romans and their proud parad...  Read More

[This piece was provided by Susan Ault's mother who is 92 years old. Prior to the pandemic she golfed most days, loved bowling and enjoyed traveling the world.]It all began with the Christmas ‘Wishbooks’ coming in the mail.  Oh, how we poured over those pages knowing they were for our eyes only!  Soon, practicing for the annual country school program began.  The usual carols, skits and solos were ...  Read More

When the song of the angels is stilled,when the star in the sky is gone,when the kings and princes are home,when the shepherds are back with their flocks,the work of Christmas begins:to find the lost,to heal the broken,to feed the hungry,to release the prisoner,to rebuild the nations,to bring peace among the people,to make music in the heart.                        by Howard Thurman My heart flutt...  Read More

snow graphic by Oana Mihaela Trif from FreeImages.com...  Read More

The snow swirled around the black Equinox. Out of the chaos of the frozen flakes, the centerline of the highway flickered past. Joe Carver leaned forward, staring into the maelstrom. A green sign loomed out of the darkness. Branchwatch – 5 miles.  Read More

When I think of experiencing peace within my soul, I think of the experience of being in the grandeur of the mountains.  Read More

God’s peace is something we are invited to receive and experience, and it is also something we are called to pursue and “make.” What does the word peace mean to you?  Read More