Monthly Archives: June 2017

Okay – I know the title’s got you curious. Is he talking about children? Some new social club for short people? Actually, it was the name Charles Schulz wanted for his new comic strip. But it sounded too close to … Continue reading →

One day, Grampa told me the story of his arrival in America. It was May 24, 1883 when the family arrived at Castle Garden in New York. Grampa never forgot the crowds and turmoil in the city that day. It … Continue reading →

Justin Martyr was an early church leader and writer. He was born in 100AD in Samaria to pagan Greek parents. He was a scholar and studied Greek philosophy at Alexandria and Ephesus. One day at Ephesus he took a walk … Continue reading →

You never know when or where you will hear from God. For me, it’s come through a dog’s wet nose on a night that might have been my last, through a mysterious driver who picked me up, hitchhiking before dawn … Continue reading →

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NRSV) It is a … Continue reading →

One more excerpt from my retreat talk.   A couple years ago I heard the Thomanerchor, the St. Thomas Boys Choir from Leipzig. This 800 year-old-choir is the same one that Johann Sebastian Bach himself directed and wrote music for. … Continue reading →

Terry C requested we find a new writer for JOY’s blog-writing team.  Thank you, Terry, for two years of faithful service in this ministry.  Terri F has graciously agreed to write for JOY.  Her first blog is posted below.  Thank … Continue reading →

(with acknowledgement to the missionary, prophetic zeal of The Rev. Stephen Bouman) Every year in the fall, rostered leaders of the Florida-Bahamas Synod are (ahem) “cordially commanded” to attend Conference on Ministry. I actually look forward to going. I would … Continue reading →

As a little girl, I saw the attic as a place of wonder and mystery. Underneath racks of old clothing, boxes of all sizes loomed in each nook and cranny. One day I dug a little deeper and discovered a … Continue reading →

​Perpetua was a 23 year old young lady who was martyred for her Christian faith in 203 AD in Carthage (in present day Tunisia). Her story is unique among the early martyrs in two ways; it is the most detailed … Continue reading →