Author Archives: joyocala

Gone are the days of the “back bundle.” The time of when a man or a woman could carry all their belongings on their backs and move from one hunting ground to the next with relative ease. Do you remember … Continue reading →

I spent a good part of my limited scholarly career studying the letters of Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch in Syria at the beginning of the second century. His seven letters were written around 107 as he was being transported … Continue reading →

Paulette and I had been very active in our church in North Carolina, almost to the point of burnout. When we retired here in Ocala, we started looking for a new church home, eventually deciding on Joy Lutheran. We were … Continue reading →

The “Monday morning quarterback” syndrome is often on my mind when I write my weekly blog. As a pastor, I go back over the worship service and my message, or sermon. Could I have done better? Well, DUH! Of course. … Continue reading →

When I was a child, Columbus Day was a big thing. We memorized this little ditty. Perhaps you did too. In fourteen hundred and ninety two,                 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It … Continue reading →

My father’s name was Ray, and I know he was heaven sent for my life; however, I am speaking of the sun’s rays. One of my favorite skies to gaze at, is a slightly gray, cloudy, sky that has pockets … Continue reading →

You have breast cancer Dr. Deborah said. “Do you see this star burst shaped-form on your mammography film? That is usually indicative of a cancerous tumor.” What? What is she saying to me, I am only 48, I thought. Cancer? … Continue reading →

Last Sunday, the choir sang the anthem, “Proclaim the Glory of the Lord”, written by Niles Borop and Dwight Lilies and arranged by Marty Hamby. As often happens the tune and the message have been in my consciousness almost since … Continue reading →

At the end of worship the bulletin read: “The service begins now.” That’s a clever play on two different meanings of the word “service.” I pondered this peculiarity. Why should service mean an act of worship? The Oxford English Dictionary … Continue reading →

I am a retired math teacher, and I remember one class when I was trying to explain an especially complicated and involved topic. It was one of those math topics where you don’t understand anything until you understand everything. These … Continue reading →