[Masthead] Fair ~ 19°F  
Feels like: 19°F
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
Nothing can separate us from God's love (02/10/12)
They're everywhere! They're everywhere! Hearts, flowers, chocolate, even greeting cards that sing mushy love songs. We are surrounded daily by reminders that this is the month of love, yet I'm not so sure there isn't more guilt than actual affection being offered up to prove we care. It's a basic desire for all of us, isn't it?...
Make the most of 'little opportunities' God gives you (01/27/12)
"Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think of Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me . . ...
If only dependence on Bible could match dependence on cell phone (01/20/12)
Each school year, day one, I go over my class rules. Most are predictable: "Respect others." "When I'm talking, you aren't." "Feel free to sharpen pencils without asking," etc. None of those cause much reaction. But then I lay the BOMB on these teens. "All cell phones must be put in the basket by the door when you enter this room." My advanced students get a kick out of watching the incoming freshmen stare at each other, panicked. It's obvious what they are thinking...
Making a change in the world starts with individuals (01/13/12)
It starts with you. And me. God has given each of us, individually, another year to make a difference, despite how things in this world are in a colossal mess morally, economically, politically and spiritually. We turn on the news, we read the headlines, and we get discouraged, wondering if THIS will be the year Jesus will return and take us home. After all, it's never been this bad...
Unselfish act example for all Christians (01/06/12)
Her name is Ann, she is a Canadian senior citizen and she is quite the adventurer. I met her in Mazatlan, Mexico, and was immediately impressed with her go-get-'em attitude. Her latest venture is one that deserves to be retold. Ann and her husband Patrick were on a jungle trek in Burma when she was bitten by a red-tailed, green snake. ...
Quick fixes don't always get to the root of a problem (12/30/11)
When our children were younger, they typically failed to recognize the benefits of the "life lessons" their frugal father was determined to teach them. Take for instance, the car Dave bought for Adam, our middle son, who was then in high school. The ultimate goal was for Adam to hand it down to his brother Andy who would drive it for several years...
A poem shared (12/23/11)
Jonathan Moyers, a former student and praise leader in a nearby church, wrote the following poem. He has given me permission to share it with you. Tis the season of tons of stuff, Hustle and bustle in the name of "love." Presents, trees, and baskets of cheese,...
Look for ways to give to lift people's spirits this season and all year long (12/16/11)
"You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving" I recently saw that quote on a poster, and it caused me to think. As Christians, we are called to love. No surprises there. It is, after all, what distinguishes us from the non-Christian, right? Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice, knew the cost of true love...
Sometimes, words can be the greatest gift of all (12/09/11)
I wanted to quit. My shins had turned to splinters, my lungs groaned, and I was bored. While running on the Fort Scott Community College track for the first time following a year's hiatus, my frustration must have shown ... or perhaps my snarls and guttural noises gave it away, but about the time I turned to head home, Kristin Downing, a former student of mine, sprinted past, going the other direction...
There is treasure for you somewhere 'over the rainbow' (12/02/11)
If you were able to attend Fort Scott High School's production of "The Wizard of Oz," you no doubt recognized the magnitude of talent, the number of personnel involved and the team effort that went into this play. Inside the program you read a short blurb acknowledging the help of Russell McMurray. What it didn't tell you was that God used his kindness and positive attitude as key factors in me selecting this play, and in the end I gained a lifelong friend...
Thanksgiving perfect time to lift spirits of others (11/25/11)
Ever had "one of those days" at work? You've done more than was asked but no one has noticed? For the fifth month in a row you've deserved that "Employee of the Month" parking spot only to find that management once again has given it to Manipulator Maria instead?...
'Be still and know that I am God' applies to hunting, too (11/10/11)
My son Adam is passionate about hunting. He did not get that love from me. I find it cruel to stalk a deer or elk by hiding in trees or brush while baiting them with mimicking animal calls. "You have a distinct advantage," I tell him. "If the animals had cameras and binoculars and a bow and arrow, things would be equal, but this way it's not fair."...
What are your reasons for attending or not attending church? (11/04/11)
A few years ago church marquees began illustrating clever messages in hopes passersby would reconsider missing the Sunday services. This is one of my favorites: "As you pass this little church, be sure to plan a visit, So when at last you're carried in, God won't ask 'Who is it?'"...
God's gift of patience . . . and working with little people (10/28/11)
It's been years since I've worked with small children. Such fond memories I have of those times: showing up at work with mismatched shoes; apologizing to a mother for her son's broken tooth -- even though I had no idea it had even happened, forgetting to pick up my own sons at their little league practices; falling into bed, questioning why I was put on this earth. We all have our gifts . . ...
Be cautious in judging others (10/21/11)
I've been sickened by the happenings in our community in the past couple of weeks. Self-serving actions have led to families being ripped apart, immeasurable suffering (physical and emotional), and torturous guilt for loved ones involved. We find ourselves on edge, as if we personally have been affected...
Friendly reminders to be a good servant (10/07/11)
When was the last time you served someone when it cost you something? Possibly you were asked to compromise your schedule. Maybe your checkbook. Probably your pride. Jesus was the epitome of servanthood. Picture Him washing the feet of His disciples, speaking to the Samaritan woman (half-breed that she was), or even dying on the cross for a crime He never committed. It was never about Him. It was always about the other person. You and I are no exception...
Little things can wreck havoc in our lives (09/30/11)
One tiny thing. No big deal. Or so it seemed. It all began when my car window wouldn't roll up. That issue appeared fixed after the dashboard gauge indicated the tire pressure was low, Dave added air and the window cooperated and closed. I asked if there was a correlation between the two. My pragmatic husband suggested I never become a mechanic...
McGruff's kidnapping opens eyes to scripture in Corinthians (09/23/11)
A few years ago I was an accomplice in a kidnapping at the high school where I teach. It was one of the highlights of my year. It all started when Polly, a first-year English teacher, "borrowed" McGruff, the crime-fighting stuffed dog that sat guard on the desk of our school's police officer, in order to ransom the furry mutt for chocolates. That's where I came in. My room was to be the drop-off point...
God sees us as perfect; why can't we ? (09/16/11)
"List one thing about your appearance you would change if you could," I challenged my Bible study teens. "Just one?" they responded in unison. Each of the seven had her own complaint: high forehead, crooked nose, too fat, too fat, too fat, thin hair, too short...
Like tennis, prayer takes discipline, commitment, practice (09/09/11)
Several years ago, after a 25-year hiatus from the activity, I signed up to play tennis. My previous experience with the sport had been when I was 12, but then, not knowing how to keep score, my girlfriend Chris and I simply would count how many times we hit the ball. (Not to boast, but our record was 16 volleys.)...
When you think of being dead, what do you see? (09/02/11)
I am concerned that, for the majority of Christians, heaven sounds quite nice, and it certainly is where we want to end up, but in spite of its saving-grace-insurance-policy resemblance, it fails the authenticity test. There was a time when I was no exception to that belief, a fact that became obvious to me a few years ago when my friend Lael posed a question to me during one of our "girlie" chats. ...
God equips us all uniquely (08/26/11)
There are moments when I do something fairly well and feel a little puffed up, but invariably God allows someone or something to come along and pop a hole in my egotistical balloon and bring me crashing back to earth. Take swimming, for example. Dave and I have been doing laps, and the other day I asked why I was so much slower than he. His response brought back "fond" memories of the last time I asked that question. Allow me to reminisce...
How do you spend 86,400 seconds each day? (08/19/11)
It was the same group of men, game after game, all of them laboring to nab the attention of the ballplayer as he entered or left the ballpark. They were baseball card fanatics, carrying with them notebooks with the visiting team pictures alphabetized and placed inside protective, plastic sleeves...
'Eternal power... and the mystery of his divine being' (08/12/11)
Last week's article described the first days of my trip to North Dakota where my friend Sally and I visited Marti on her ranch. I ended by describing our horseback ride through the mountainous area, our destination to see Teddy Roosevelt's homestead, remotely tucked away and marked only by historical signs set there by state workers. ...
What lies within us -- integrity (07/29/11)
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." That something that "lies within us" is called integrity. Definition? Doing the right thing, even though no one is watching...
CIY conference emotional experience (07/22/11)
This past week I had the privilege of helping sponsor 114 teenagers to the Christ In Youth conference in Tennessee. My students had talked about their CIY experiences there in the past, but I had no idea it was as life-transforming as it was. Picture 2,000 uninhibited students gathering to praise Jesus. "With arms high and heart abandoned," as the song lyrics read, these teenagers demonstrated what most churches lack: a musical love-fest between them and God...
Touch of the Master's hand (07/15/11)
In 1921 this poem, one of my favorites, was written by Myra Brooks Welch, "the poet with the singing soul." As a young woman, Myra's special love was playing the organ; however, years later, confined in her wheelchair due to severe arthritis, she was unable to make music...
Remind yourself of Joseph when things get rough (07/08/11)
"Recalculating." If you have a GPS system and you're like me, this is a word you hear frequently when traveling. Its definition? "You're lost again. Find a place to turn around and go the other direction, you numbskull." Some of us live in recalculating mode. We are constantly readjusting. Plan A becomes Plan B which evolves into Plan C...
Living life according to the Beatitudes (06/24/11)
If I were to be graded on how well I represent Christ, I might, on my best days, be given a D. Grading on the curve, comparing myself to my heathen friends who sometimes cuss and don't read their Bibles, I might get a C. But there is one place in scripture -- and regrettably it was of maximum importance to Jesus -- where I get an F-minus. The Beatitudes...
Sometimes prayers go unanswered for a reason (06/17/11)
Divine intervention. That's what we called it, although we (embarrassingly) didn't refer to it that way until after the fact when we had a glimpse of God's handiwork. Five of us -- my four 1968 college sorority sisters and I -- were in Mazatlan waiting for another one of our friends, Colleen, to arrive...
Vacation options: Good book, cup of coffee or exercise (06/10/11)
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. My husband retired in January. He was feeling the physical pains caused from years of athletic activity and could no longer perform the grueling demands of his coaching job. That meant we would actually be able to take a summer vacation together, the first that would include pleasurable, pre-selected stops as opposed to harried cross-country sojourns controlled by Dave's baseball schedule...
Seek ways to build up, encourage one another (06/03/11)
It's one of my favorite days of the year. Graduation. There are always several parties scheduled, and this time my granddaughter Montana had volunteered to go along with me to "help carry the gifts" and "get some cake." Our outing had started out less than perfect as Mapquest had sent us to the wrong side of town, a delay which prompted Mo to worry that there wouldn't be any dessert by the time we got there...
Communication comes in different forms (05/27/11)
When Dave and I were first married I started noticing a strange behavior in older couples -- the majority of them would dine in restaurants without talking to each other. BORING! I told myself. What's the point of being together if you aren't talking?...
Technology distractions divert attention to fellowship (05/20/11)
Transparent toasters. Banana guards. Toilet seat lifters. Anti-theft coffee cups. Lucky us. We live in a world of conveniences, all intended to make our lives easier. Yet in spite of these time-savers, many of us remain frenzied with all the unchecked responsibilities on our relentless to-do-list. ...
Giving of one's self a priceless gift (05/13/11)
To me, one of the tenderest moments in scripture is the account of Mary anointing Jesus' feet. As the dinner guests watch, no doubt stunned, Mary breaks the alabaster jar containing a pound of costly perfume, pours it on Jesus' feet and, through tears, unbinds her head covering to wipe His feet with her hair. It is outrageous love. Extravagant love. And it is too much for crooked Judas Iscariot to watch...
Bible study turns into parenting show, tell and talk (05/06/11)
Years ago, when we lived in Texas, Dave and I hosted a Bible study in our home. It was led by our good friends, our pastor Jack and his wife Lael. A new couple came one Sunday evening when Dave was out of town, and before our study began, I asked about their family. They had one son and he was...well, "perfect." I smiled and said not what I was thinking: "How nice."...
Christian conference a blessing (04/29/11)
Two weekends ago, I had the privilege of being the "humorist" for a Christian conference. Nearly 1,000 women attended, and I was completely humbled by the faith and intelligence of the other keynote speakers and singers who used their expertise to impact the women present...
Everything I need to know I learned from the Easter bunny (04/22/11)
Some time ago I received the following email: Everything I Need To Know, I Learned From the Easter Bunny. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Walk softly and carry a big carrot. Everyone needs a friend who is all ears. All work and no play can make you a basket case...
Rules tend to eliminate the human facotr (04/15/11)
It was our 38th anniversary. Dave telephoned from Mexico, saying he had made us reservations at our favorite restaurant and also purchased tickets for the Gala at Angela Peralta, the historic theater in downtown Mazatlan. I had numerous times -- all in vain -- visited the site to see if it was as magnificent inside as the locals described, but I never found it open...
Future determined by choices you make in life (04/08/11)
Governor Jesus Aguilar Padilla attended the Vineyard Church in Mazatlan, Mexico, a few Sundays ago, and Dave was there. Padilla had come to honor the church's dedication to ministry and to acknowledge all the Vineyard does for the poor in the area. The governor made a monetary donation and then walked around with the collection plate, insisting his bodyguards do the same, a sight Dave found very impressive. ...
Words are powerful weapons (04/01/11)
"Girls," I wrote, "I have lost 13 pounds. I am so excited!" So began the email I sent my two step-daughters before last Christmas. My "more yogurt and less potato chips" diet had paid off -- I finally would be able to squeeze into the swimsuit that had been hidden away for this very occasion, and everyone in my family would ask my secret when they saw me on the beach for our holidays together in Mexico...
Learning to see God in everything around you (03/25/11)
Several years ago I visited a church where the pastor challenged the congregation to break into groups and answer this challenge: "Prove God." Oh, yippee! I thought. While we're at it, why don't we have a relay race so I can be the last one chosen? Cliques formed quickly, no one chose me, and my middle school days reared their ugly heads once again...
To God, you are amazing (03/18/11)
My drama students are creating skits to present to the eighth graders at the end of April. I began this activity by asking them to name difficulties they personally are facing. As they shared, I wrote their answers on the board. I was not prepared for what they were about to tell me...
Share blessings with those that are less fortunate (03/11/11)
Scripture tells us that all nations will one day gather before the throne of God where they will be separated into two groups: sheep on the right, goats on the left. The image of that day is a bothersome one. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ...
Whispers of doubt come from an evil source (03/04/11)
When my two brothers and I were young we always knew school was getting close because our mother would take us downtown to buy new shoes, a dress pair and a school pair (not hand-me-downs but the real thing). My fifth grade year I talked my mom into letting me get a pair of black patten-leather shoes with French heels. ...
Ask God to turn your bitterness into blessing (02/25/11)
The responses I received from my Jan. 28 article on bitterness allowed me to see Jesus working in hurting lives. Individuals, deeply wounded by broken relationships, wrote to share their burdens of anger that had caused them to move away from God. They had recognized themselves in my description of the embittered woman and did not like what they saw. ...
Purge yourself of all untrue, impure thoughts (02/18/11)
This past week Sarah, a senior drama student, was leading her classmates in a yoga exercise. She reminded them of what her yoga instructor had said: "It's very difficult to empty our minds ... but we must try." "No problem for me," I thought. "I've been losing mine for quite some time." It's been a painless process, but it's definitely escalating. ...
God's never-ending mercies a sure cure for regret (02/11/11)
A man died and went to heaven. He was met at the pearly gates by Saint Peter who offered to show him the home God had prepared for him. The man's excitement grew as he and Saint Peter passed a street lined with beautiful mansions, but they did not stop. ...
Flying into rage could cause for rough landing (02/04/11)
Will Rogers once said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." UNLV's 6'4" basketball guard, Tre'Von Willis, knows the truth of that adage. Willis was arrested last July, accused of choking his girlfriend because she was texting instead of paying attention to him. If convicted of this impetuous act, Willis could spend years behind bars. I read the Willis article and thought, Over a cell phone? Seriously?...
Jesus teaches us to break shackles of bitterness (01/28/11)
"Backward living," I call it. Holding on to our past with emotional super-glue that keeps us bound to bitterness. Living in a mental prison confined by steel bars of hostility. If you've allowed yourself to dwell on ways you've been hurt, maybe it's time you unlock the shackles and set yourself free. ...
Trip to colonias shows true meaning of Christmas (12/30/10)
We sat in the back of the rickety van, holding on to each other to keep from tipping over. I'm not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. The Vineyard Church -- the one Dave and I attend when we are here in Mazatlan, Mexico, -- had offered its members several opportunities for discipleship, and this was one for which I volunteered our family -- ministering to a group of children at a local colonia...
The true forgotten 'reason for the season' (12/23/10)
Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus chose to leave the crowning perfection of excellence to be born into a disordered universe in a remote land called Bethlehem? Think about it. From the throne room itself, Jesus had had a ring-side seat to the world's shenanigans, watching civilization get what it deserved, yet he still loved enough to come to earth to die for the very ones who would end up rejecting him...
Majesty born in manger brings salvation to all (12/17/10)
As I downloaded Clay Aiken's version of my favorite Christmas song "Mary, Did You Know," I began to cry as the lyrics came to life. For just a few moments, I was transported to a Bethlehem inn where a tiny baby boy was cradled in His mother's arms. Max Lucado describes the miracle: "He (Jesus) came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. ...
Love is the greatest gift of all (12/10/10)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (HYPERLINK "http://www.crosswalkmail.com/scrsrlbksjstbpkdtcfhztwzbltpvffpjmbzrrdbvpcjbmv_hbqsfcfbcfws.html" \o "http://www.crosswalkmail.com/scrsrlbksjstbpkdtcfhztwzbltpvffpjmbzrrdbvpcjbmv_hbqsfcfbcfws.html" 1 Corinthians 13:13)...
Looking for answers in all the wrong places (12/03/10)
It was the Luke Bryan weekend, and our house was filled with family and friends. When our guests mentioned the television in their room wasn't working, I went upstairs to check the remote, forgetting that Andy's friend had taken it to California. Don't ask...
God understands everything (11/25/10)
The high school musical is over, and it has been quite a journey. From music to choreography to costumes to set design, five of us adults were the team responsible for the play. Pre-production meetings were lengthy. It was my job as the director to get everyone on the same page and then figure out a way to get these adolescent actors at least in the same book. There was just one problem...
God extends grace, gives all second chances (11/19/10)
When I was young, my mother taught me to sew, a love that was lost as soon as I realized I was pitiful at it. Somewhere in junior high. Come to think of it, that's when I decided I was inept at just about everything I tried. Sewing was no exception. On home-ec assignments, I would end up with more remnants than actual ware, even though my teacher, Mrs. Douglas (bless her heart), would always try to find some redeeming quality in my designs...
Bible offers comfort, even in times of injustice (11/04/10)
Once a month, the members of this support group congregate in Dallas. With a bond that few understand, each has a story, yet most refuse to discuss it with outsiders. What do these men have in common? All were accused of crimes they did not commit and spent years in prison, until finally being exonerated due to DNA evidence...
The problem with worry (10/29/10)
The phone call came around 7:20 a.m., just as I opened my classroom door. Jeff, our oldest son, wanted to know why Andy, our youngest, was in a hospital in Mexico. Not surprisingly, I didn't even know Andy was in Mexico, much less a hospital. My policeman son had done little investigative work before making this call. Jeff filled in what little he knew. "I just got a text with a picture of him hooked up to an I.V. in a hospital there." My mind took off like the Discovery space shuttle:...
To be like Christ, we must focus on others (10/22/10)
"I'm losing power." "Well, honey, you are 62. That's what happens." "No, Patty. I mean your car is losing power. And there's smoke pouring from the back." Within seconds, Dave and I stood on the highway's shoulder, watching helplessly as my VW became smothered in smoke. ...
Faithfully serving small roles can lead to promotions (10/15/10)
Julia is a foreign exchange student who is enrolled in my drama class and hangs out in my room after school. Julia tried out for the fall musical and was given the role of the seamstress, a character who appears in three scenes and has a few lines. The Monday after I posted the roles, Julia wasn't her usual jovial self, and after school I found out why...
Are you a rope thrower? (10/08/10)
Our school district's recent inservice dealt with "Love and Logic," the strategy of disciplining students with dignity. Following the seminar, many of us agreed it should be a mandatory parenting class for everyone whose children are being educated in our district, but some of us admitted we need to practice it in our own homes, too. ...
Scripture says turn evil into good; none are without sin (10/01/10)
My husband, mother, and I were recently in Pennsylvania. Taking an early morning walk, Dave and I encountered two opposing groups positioned in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic. The abortion advocates were easily identified by their bright yellow vests, while the opposition held up signs denouncing abortion as murder. A trio quietly prayed the rosary while others were there to share their story. Such was the case of one young woman who wore a placard reading "I Regret My Abortion."...
Life is unfair: Be thankful for blessings (09/24/10)
This past week we had tryouts for our upcoming musical "White Christmas." The actors heard my "there are no small roles" lecture, but we all know that's a nifty concept only if it applies to the OTHER guy. Five of us were involved in deciding the cast. ...
Unexpected blessings from the lives of others (09/10/10)
I think God loves irony, don't you? I think He smiles every time He twists life events so that the unexpected happens. I was part of one of His plots last weekend when I joined celebrity Christian author/speaker Carol Kent, comedian Jinny Henson, and radio personality Dr. ...
Overwhelmed? Look to God for comfort, rest (09/03/10)
Bark Park recently opened by my step-daughter's house near Las Vegas. That's right ... BARK PARK. A park for dogs. Balance beams, teeter-totters, hoops, balls ... even the owners' benches are concrete doggy bones. It is hound heaven. Yes, indeedy, the economy may be plummeting and countless people might be unemployed, but thank goodness, our dogs are happy...
Cleaning out the closet: New discoveries uncovered when the clutter is removed (08/13/10)
As the school year approaches, you might be one of those shoppers looking for bargains. I feel your pain because that means it's time for a little closet-cleaning. Sounds easy enough, but determining what to keep, what to toss, and what to give away are not easy decisions. ...
Parents reap the seeds they plant in their children (08/06/10)
"Britney, let me see your cell phone." My 11 year old granddaughter hands it over to her mother (my stepdaughter), Nikki, who checks Britney's texts. Nikki has been out of town at her oldest daughter's softball tournament, and she wants to make sure her youngest has not abused her phone privileges. Later I ask Nikki, privately: "Your kids don't object to you looking at their call logs and texts?"...
The Ultimate Fixer makes the impossible possible (07/30/10)
The story is told of a man whose Model T Ford broke down on the side of a country road. He opened the hood and was attempting -- unsuccessfully -- to solve the problem, when another car pulled up behind him. A well-dressed, distinguished man got out of the vehicle and asked if he could be of any service. ...
God sees who we really are and still loves us (07/23/10)
Oh, the masks we Christians wear! Most of us have a closet-full, and we all know how handy they are when our sandpaper relatives and friends rub us the wrong way. Too insecure to "speak the truth in love," we don those smiley faces and pretend irritating people don't grate on our nerves...
God can use any experience to serve His purpose (07/16/10)
How wonderful it must be to recognize God's handiwork in each situation handed to us! Author/speaker Mark Cahill knows what that's like. In his book The One Thing We Can't Do In Heaven he recalls a time he needed an emergency appendectomy. He was thrilled to have an opportunity to witness to emergency room personnel, and without that crisis he would never have that chance. ...
For all who believe, there will be a tomorrow (07/08/10)
This week Amanda, my 16-year-old granddaughter, is playing on an all-star softball team in Denver, Colorado, while her dad, brother, sister and I are here in Las Vegas. Yesterday Amanda made an error that put her team behind. Her coach immediately pulled her from the game and had her sit on the bench. Nikki, her mother, texted me as the game progressed, and I found myself angered that such an embarrassing injustice had to be inflicted on such a dedicated athlete...
Be bold in faith, not ashamed of God (06/18/10)
Coming through Customs at the Toronto Airport in route to Las Vegas two weeks ago was a test of my patience, endurance, and ability to stand in high heels for four hours. With most of the Custom's agents maxing out their overtime, only a few weary souls were left to man the booths. Between 700 and 1,000 frustrated travelers inched along the zigzag walkway where a sense of helplessness became fodder for conversation...
God is 'The Ultimate Fixer' (06/11/10)
This past weekend I spoke at a Christian retreat in Canada. The conference center was beautiful, the accommodations amazing, and the surroundings breathtaking. The only negative, aside from a few curious bears and mean-spirited raccoons that roamed the vicinity, were the Canadian geese that had invaded the area...
God's alternate plan bursts ego bubble (05/28/10)
Mr. Beckham, our principal, had been stressing this day's importance since last September, and now it was here. The national accreditation team was coming to Fort Scott High School to determine if we were "on a path of continuous improvement." Everything would be scrutinized...teachers, counselors, students, parents, the Board of Education. ...
'In Heaven there are no do-overs' (05/21/10)
I love graduations. Weeks ahead of time, seniors and their families begin to gear up for a whirlwind of festivities. Invitations are sent for get-togethers at graduates' houses where mini "shrines" will be set up to commemorate high school accomplishments. Food is prepared and frozen in anticipation of relatives descending in droves, and as the weekend approaches, houses are spit-shined, with even the teen's bedroom organized and the bed made. For some, a first...
Ask. Seek. Knock. Discover. (05/14/10)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt 7:7) A few of us at Fort Scott High School are asking, seeking, and knocking, praying a door will be blown off its hinges. Pechone Stepps, a para-professional in our school, was once a talented basketball player and St. ...
With God's help, tragedy won't dictate life course (04/30/10)
"I have, thus far, abided by my worldview that it is not the falling that matters, but whether you are strong enough to rise again." So wrote Melissa Ruggero, a former student of mine. I first heard of Melissa's childhood when we were on a debate trip her junior year of high school. ...
Best friends do whatever it takes (04/23/10)
When our boys were younger, they spent a lot of time in their rooms. Not of their own volition. Typically the older two, Jeff and Adam, would have plotted against their younger brother, Andy, found themselves in trouble, and were exiled (tortured, as they would tell it) to spend time in solitary confinement...
Consequences: We reap what we sow (04/16/10)
My dermatologist recently prescribed a skin cream for me. I was to rub it on my neckline twice a day for two weeks so that all of that area's hidden skin cancers would surface. After four days, I lit up like the White House Christmas tree. Apparently all those years of sun-worshipping, all those summer afternoons lying on my roof lathered in Crisco had taken their toll...
Missing the clutter that defines us (04/09/10)
I have come to dread the UPS man who invariably arrives at our doorstep in February, delivering a box postmarked from whatever baseball team Dave is coaching with at the time. Predictably it will be a new briefcase with the team logo embossed on its side...
The ultimate sacrifice: True meaning of Easter (04/02/10)
This Sunday many of us will celebrate with colored eggs, Easter bonnets, an obligatory church service, and a family feast of ham and scalloped potatoes. For the majority, however, the true meaning of the holiday will be lost, and we will forget the miracle responsible for the event:...
Spring break trials prove to be 'no big deal' (03/26/10)
Spring break was last week, and I was ready for it. A trip to sunny Florida, time to get a little R & R, and a chance to see my husband and son. It couldn't get much better than that. Or so I thought. What I didn't count on was an unseasonal, Arctic blast that made its way south, blowing away any potential rays I was hoping to catch. ...
We are never out of sight of Jesus (03/19/10)
If Jesus Came To Your House by Lois Blanchard Eades If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two-- If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do. Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest, And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best, And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there-- That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.. ...
Thank God for the good old days (03/12/10)
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" If you were of the Wally and Beaver era, that phrase probably connotes memories of nightly, neighborhood free-for-alls, bruised knees, and sweaty bodies. I wonder how many of the video generation have witnessed, first-hand, the challenges of avoiding capture by landing on base before being plastered by Mean Jimmy... unless, of course, he's one of the freaky video aliens they're shooting to another galaxy to save their planet...
Rejection makes for good company (03/05/10)
Rejection. If you have felt its sting -- and who hasn't -- you're in good company. Thomas Edison was called "too stupid to learn" by his teacher. Abraham Lincoln failed at two businesses and lost six elections. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he "had no imagination." The first African American Academy Award Winner for Best Actor, Sidney Poitier, was told after his first audition by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?" Michael Jordan, cut from his high school basketball team, went home, locked himself in his room, and cried. ...
It's the (thought) intent that counts (02/26/10)
"Honey, come in here. I have a surprise for you." Dave sounds excited. It is the day before Valentine's Day, so I know he's up to something. A few weeks previous, he had measured my wrist. Sort of a dead giveaway that a bracelet was coming, but I don't let on that I have figured out his secret...
Adam and Eve: The blame game begins (02/19/10)
If you're ever looking for a party idea, how about an evening of "The Blame Game"? You know how it works. Someone accuses you of doing something and then you come up with as many excuses as possible to prove you're not responsible. Party favors go to the one with the best answers...
'To love others as Jesus loves us' (02/12/10)
Socrates once said, "The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were as nice and loving every day as we try to be on Valentine's Day? If we couldn't wait to make someone else smile, if hearts were shared and not broken, and if it were all about the OTHER person instead of about us?...
Despite insecurities, all are 'wonderfully made' (02/05/10)
My physical psyche, if there is such a thing, has had a tough couple of weeks. It started when three students said my hair looked the best they'd ever seen it -- after I had come inside from a tsunami-type wind storm. Made me wonder what it looks like when I actually comb it...
Temptations, unless dealt with, return with vengeance (01/22/10)
Several years ago, when our sons were small and my mother lived with us, we gave Adam a sweet, affectionate kitten as a birthday gift. Adam named him "Grenade" or some such endearing term, and for the first few days the furry little bundle never touched the ground. He was carried -- or stuffed into a camouflage backpack and toted -- everywhere Adam went...
God can be found in the most unexpected places (01/08/10)
It's called the Dump Ministry, and it is literally that. A group of volunteers make food for the dozens of Mexicans who spend their days scrounging through the Mazatlan dump for recyclable materials. On Christmas Eve, Dave, our son-in-law Randy, and I joined 40 others for the Vineyards Church mission trip there. We met in the morning to prepare sandwiches and fill plastic water bottles before we boarded the bus for the hour-long trip...
Instant gratification causes good deed to backfire (12/31/09)
Seven from my family are here in Mazatlan, Mexico, for Christmas break, and yesterday we were invited by our local friends, Francis and Rudy, to be part of their Christmas Eve celebration. We were to join about 30 adults, mostly employees of the resort next to where we are staying, to deliver toys to children in an impoverished neighborhood and an orphanage. All we needed to bring was lots of candy. Thanks to Sam's, that was no problem...
St. Mary's Christmas program serves as reminder of 'the reason for the season' (12/24/09)
This Christmas season I was blessed, not because my house was all gussied up with festive garland and twinkling lights, not because I was able to squeeze in a nail appointment to get me through the holidays, and not because, for once, not one of the gifts I received dealt with counting fat or calories. My Christmas was blessed because of a group of elementary school children who helped me see "the reason for the season."...
'There's always an excuse not to help'2 (12/18/09)
Services for Christopher B. Berry, 29, Houston, formerly of Tyler, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Zion CME Church. Burial will be in Johnson Cemetery under direction of Brooks-Sterling & Garrett Funeral Directors, Tyler. Mr. Berry died Nov. 10, 2009, in Houston. He was born April 20, 1980, in Gladewater. He attended Chapel Hill High School, Fort Scott Community College and Southern University. He was a member of Mount Zion CME Church...
No faking it when it comes to God's family (12/11/09)
Last weekend Dave and I rented the movie "The Changeling," a true story about a single mother's unending quest for her young son who mysteriously disappears. Five months after the boy's disappearance, the mother, Christine, is introduced to a boy who pretends to be her son. ...
God's special blessing came to thankful leper (12/04/09)
I cannot imagine hearing the diagnosis "Unclean." The priest would declare it, should he observe a raw patch of flesh or white bumps or red marks or discolored hair on his patient. The prescription? Immediate isolation. There would be no soothing ointments or salves, not even an affectionate good-bye from one's family. ...
Choosing to live a life of thanks-Living like Paul (11/26/09)
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, but I wasn't...not nearly as much as I should have been. Thanks-giving, I mean. I was tired, already stressing over the upcoming Christmas preparations, mad at myself for putting off -- for yet another year -- buying presents ahead of time, and frustrated over my lack of discipline at the buffet table...
Lessons in authority carry heavy importance in life (11/20/09)
My sister-in-law Susan handed me a cell phone ad that ran in a local newspaper. Titled "Perfect for Back to School," it showed a student texting while hiding her hand-held phone under her classroom desk. It should have been labeled "Defying Authority In One Easy Step." Sadly, this advice is being conveyed to our youth in more ways than just a newspaper ad. It often comes directly from parents...
Tugboats deserve some recognition too (11/13/09)
"You know why I love tugboats? Because they are the little guy helping the big guy. That's all they do is help the big guy." Six of us were on our annual "girls week out" trip, and Keller was looking out our condominium's window watching the boats at the nearby wharf. At the time I didn't pay her comment much heed, but for the past few weeks I've seen that principle in action at the high school where we are in the middle of musical performances...
Patty LaRoche
Patty LaRoche: Face to Face