Monthly Archives: March 2023

                                                                                                                                                                        Last week some friends and I attended the showing of the movie The Jesus Revolution. It is based on the real-life revival of Christianity in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  The movie took place during a time of much … Continue reading →

Or maybe the Procrastinating Gardener.  Yep, that’s me.  I really do love to plant and tend and watch plants grow and mature.  But often, I buy the plants and seeds and they sit for weeks without getting into the soil. … Continue reading →

How should Christians live in the world? Some answers to that question provoke cries of “No politics in church!” I’ll start with obligations, not politics. The Old Testament teaches our obligations in the commandments. We are to honor our parents, … Continue reading →

The Joy Devotional Blogs were started by Pastor Ed Holloway during his ministry at Joy. When he retired, Annie Schank took on the responsibility of continuing these daily blogs. Today’s blog is adapted from her post in March of 2017. … Continue reading →

I dIdn’t know what else to title this, but it’s as good as any. A journey that is just past the one-third done mark. Lent. The season of giving up, abstaining, self-sacrifice. Other than sweets or coffee, I’m not privy … Continue reading →

On this day our Jewish friends celebrate the festival of Purim.  I don’t know about you, but I was totally unaware of the significance of this commemoration.  Yet, it’s all there in the Book of Esther.  Perhaps we could take … Continue reading →

        Let’s see…. what could you name as a beast of burden? Hm? A pack animal that can carry heavy loads, a donkey, perhaps a camel, elephant, mule, or ox…. but, is there some ONE you might consider a “bearer” of … Continue reading →

How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans thought the world needed one of you too? This is a quote I recently saw and it prompted me to think about people I have come in … Continue reading →

Meet Bishop Curry, a man who has crammed a lot of living into a relatively short amount of time. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, he still lives there with his wife and 3 daughters. He was … Continue reading →

You may have noticed that Sundays during Lent are said to be Sundays in Lent rather than of Lent. I wouldn’t make too much of the distinction, but you discover that the only way to count forty days between Ash … Continue reading →