Author Archives: joyocala

A pair of shiny black patent leather shoes on the feet of a little girl walked into the church basement for the first day of Sunday School.  Keep going little shoes, the smaller ones sit way up in the front … Continue reading →

It’s so easy to…..fall in love.  It’s so easy….with Easy Bake Oven.  It’s so easy, it’s a snap.  It’s so easy, it’s a cinch. Let’s think about this, here is the scenario.  Your dear friend has not been feeling well.  The subsequent doctor’s appointment reveals a diagnosis that will require … Continue reading →

In Revelations 21:4 we are given these promises: He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. Can you imagine such … Continue reading →

Here’s a familiar question that floats into my head when I face a decision. It doesn’t have to be an earth-shattering decision. It can be something as simple as “What shall I have for breakfast?”  Or something as crucial as … Continue reading →

Today is Candlemas. That term isn’t common among American Lutherans. We use the title The Presentation of Our Lord. I’ll explain Candlemas a bit later. Leviticus 12 commands a woman to present herself at the temple and make an offering … Continue reading →

I had a good friend in Minnesota who, whenever someone would upset her or make her angry, would say “Johnny is a child of God, too.”  That stuck with me, and I find myself repeating the phrase in my mind whenever … Continue reading →

(SPOILER ALERT – some of these following thoughts may appear in this Sunday’s sermon) I’m guessing that most of you readers remember the days of navigation pre-GPS. Street maps, road signs, and/or landmarks guided us to our destination. That, and … Continue reading →

Before we bid farewell to the month of January, I wanted to share a strange but true custom regarding the celebration of the New Year.  It seems that for more than 25 years, the town of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, has dropped … Continue reading →

What is there about a stream that can mesmerize me?  The water is alive with motion as it tumbles over rocks and ridges.  There is activity within the water making it seem full of life. There are some times small minnows, tiny … Continue reading →

Many of you who read this are no longer what my mom and dad used to call “Spring Chickens”.  This was sent to me by one of my friends, who just like me just like me is no longer a … Continue reading →