Author Archives: joyocala

The Flanders area of Belgium saw some of the fiercest fighting of WWI, and the British Commonwealth troops suffered great casualties there.  You may remember the poem “In Flanders Fields by the Canadian Army doctor John McCrae.  It starts off … Continue reading →

We all have people we have idolized, admired, tried to emulate. Some of those are unattainable, meaning there is no way, no how you are ever going to get within a thousand miles of them. That’s usually how it starts … Continue reading →

‘Tis the season.  I’ve pruned my rose bushes way back.  Even the tall perennials are cut down.  In a few more weeks, with the help of fertilizer and water, healthy new growth will appear.  As butcher of the bushes, I … Continue reading →

Seeing Victor Mature play the role of Samson on an old version of the movie, Samson and Delilah, I became intrigued by this Biblical story. As a child, hearing about his strength coming from his hair sounded rather far fetched. … Continue reading →

Originally posted on February 29, 2016 by our friend Helen When you see “lifetime guarantee” on a product, do you wonder whose lifetime- the consumer, the product, or the producer?  The lifetime of any of these could be today, ten … Continue reading →

Do you remember when the Holy Spirit was referred to as the Holy Ghost?  I do.  I also remember and continue to use a hymn that we often sang during the Pentecostal season.  But, really, it doesn’t need to be … Continue reading →

Lent is fixed in my memories of boyhood. There were evening Lenten services that threw the whole of life into a tizzy. What with choir practice and confirmation class in addition to worship, it was a mad dash from school … Continue reading →

Last year Paulette and I, together with Paulette’s sister Top and her husband Sam, flew out to San Diego to visit with Top and Sam’s son Richard and his wife Leena.  It was a wonderful week.  It’s true; San Diego … Continue reading →

We all have many “loves”. I don’t mean only certain special someones, although those are the most important. “Loves” could be events, memories, foods, activities, hobbies. Whenever asked to complete the sentence, “I love”, who or what comes to mind? … Continue reading →

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday.   We’ll celebrate with pancakes on this final day before Lent.  But what’s the meaning of “shrove?” The word shrove is a form of the English word shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by … Continue reading →