Author Archives: joyocala

This rainy summer has been a great time for puzzles. My husband gives me puzzles for holidays and birthday gifts. He picks out seasonal ones, Christmas, lakeside scenes and foreign places. I have the lakeside ones with me. I love … Continue reading →

When Gaius Octavius became the Roman Emperor, he took the name Augustus Caesar. He also renamed the summer month of Sextillis after himself–August. Augustus Caesar’s name is mentioned in Luke 2:1 which helps to date the birth of Jesus. Now … Continue reading →

The United States has a lot of the best farmland in the world. The Midwest contains some of the richest soil anywhere. Some corn fields in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa produce more calories per acre than any other crop anywhere. … Continue reading →

Thanks to “The Penguin Principles” about not just surviving but thriving. Penguins are such a delight to watch! We notice that: That was how I felt in the first seven or so years in ministry. “A quivering mass of availability.” … Continue reading →

As a kid, I remember that the end of July marked the halfway point in our summer vacation from school.  The summer that seemed endless when school got out in June was now limited to one more month, August.  The … Continue reading →

        Do you wear braids or have you ever braided someone else’s hair into a braid? Perhaps you have braided yarn or string for a project you have created. You might be a horse owner and have braided its mane or … Continue reading →

For the most part, I am an optimistic, happy person. Sometimes however, I catch myself falling into the grip of negativity. I know other people do as well and I know it is not healthy physically or mentally. I think … Continue reading →

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading told the story of Jacob’s flight from his brother Esau (Genesis 28:10-19a). When the sun set, Jacob found a comfortable rock and went to sleep for the night. While sleeping, he had a dream. In … Continue reading →

Like most Lutheran kids, I memorized Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Although most people quickly forgot what they had learned from the Small Catechism, it’s still stuck in my mind. I’ve long advocated that people review the Catechism from time to time. It was meant for … Continue reading →

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right or all the news you get is bad?  I had one of those day the other day.  It got so when the phone rang, my first … Continue reading →