Author Archives: joyocala

Originally Posted on January 3, 2018 I recently watched a PBS special about the life of the great jazz musician John Coltrane. One jazz critic who was interviewed described the effect of his music by saying, “It was as if … Continue reading →

I recently read a quote by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr that got me to thinking about the role of laughter and humor in our spiritual lives.  It is a short quote but packed with meaning. Humor is a prelude to … Continue reading →

Pastor Art mentioned traveling lightly in a sermon sometime ago, and it really hit home for me. My family could not go on a simple picnic with just hotdogs, without packing plates, cups, napkins, table cloth, silver ware, a Coleman … Continue reading →

Paulette and I recently went to see the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks.  It’s a very good movie and is even inspirational.  We both enjoyed it, and I would like to tell you about one … Continue reading →

“You’ve got to change your stinking thinking”! So often in our lives we think we have it all figured out. No one is going to tell us we’re wrong! It seems like every subject or topic, especially lately, has opposing … Continue reading →

Today we commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. In April of 1963, he composed his now famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” King was President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. At the request of the Alabama Christian Movement … Continue reading →

It seems the American Kennel Club seems to always show the newest breed during their dog shows. Many are mixed breeds from favorites, like the labradoodle being a mix of the Labrador retriever and a poodle, or the tiny fluff … Continue reading →

My grandfather’s clock just struck eight.   That mellow tone not only told me the time but it reminded me of my Dad.   He was a hobbyist who loved to repair clocks, and a woodworker who enjoyed creating cases.  When he … Continue reading →

(This is an edited version of a blog which I wrote in 2017.  I think that it is an appropriate New Year’s meditation.) I bought a new broom the other day; not an ordinary broom, but an extraordinary broom.  The … Continue reading →

I always bought a bucket of Legos for the churches I served. The kids loved playing with them, and so did I. Legos were invented by a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen. The word LEGO is derived from the Danish … Continue reading →