My Church Notes

Broken Bones Restored

A broken bone is one of the most devastating injuries we can receive. The pain is incredible, the recovery is interminable, and the aftermath is less than idyllic. We suffer through thunderstorms and ...

Ducks in a Row

We’ve all played that carnival game, where the ducks come up, and we shoot them down. One looks pretty much the same as another, unless a prize duck appears. Take it out, and the big prize is ...

Our CIDER God

Cider is a word that has different meanings in different parts of the world. In Europe and parts of South America, it is an intoxicating drink derived from fermented fruit. In North America it is ...

Chef’s Delight

Two cooks can place the same ingredients in identical pots, cook over the same type of heat, and yet produce very different results. One will be a chef’s delight, and the other will be a blight to ...

The Drowning Stone

Marriage is often referred to as that old ball and chain. Work can be a dead end. A car, a lemon. What’s a drowning ...

The Betrayal that Caused a Betrothal

We all recognize the name of Judas Iscariot. After 2,000 years, he is still synonymous with betrayal. To label someone a Judas is to slice to the core of his identity, to flay his reputation, and to ...

A Cartoon Catastrophe

We’ve all seen the cartoon where a comical character meets something that is unexpected and very frightening. The cartoon character’s response? His eyes pop out of his head, his cap pops two feet ...

The Needle of Pride

We can needle someone (goad them into action), needle something (add ether or alcohol), or give someone the needle (heckle them to the point of irritation). A needle can also be used to make ...

Exotic Destination Desired

Imagine driving the highest navigable road in Colorado at over 14,000 feet, or surfing a black sand beach in Hawaii, or even cruising coastal Alaska in a private luxury suite. What do all these have ...

Solitary Confinement with God

Solitary confinement is a prison term used to describe the practice of isolating the most violent offenders. The intent is to provide protection either for the prison guards, the inmate’s fellow ...

The Tower of Weeping

No one is exempt from sadness. It is a part of the human condition, and expressing our sadness through grieving is as necessary as eating and breathing. However, when we let our sadness consume us, ...

Our RIPE God

America is a now culture. We find it difficult to plant a seed and wait for it to grow. Instant coffee; microwaves; drive-thru meals. We want it now. However, some things need to fully mature. Cut a ...

God’s Powerball Lottery

Powerball is a jackpot game played by drawing a total of five white balls and one red ball to determine a winner. If a player’s numbers match all balls, that player gets the grand prize. Just ...