Author Archives: joyocala

About joyocala

Blog posts by the saints of JOY Lutheran Church in Ocala. We are excited to do this ministry together and to share God's unconditional love with all who read these messages.

Forever Watchful

I’ve just returned from a visit to a dear friend, our friendship goes back almost 60 years. She is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease – unable to move, unable to speak. I look into her eyes; does she … Continue reading

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Burning Fire

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 6) from the Old Testament story were quite confident in their God. However, King Nebuchadnezzar, an Assyrian, who established himself as King of Babylon, created a new ruling that if the lyre, fife, trumpet, harp … Continue reading

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Labels

It was driving me crazy! No matter how much I rearranged or folded or patted, the label at the back of my neck was picking and itching and getting on my nerves. Labels . . . Why do they even … Continue reading

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Out of Sorts . . .

Funny saying – “Out of Sorts”, what does it mean? Kind of sad? Kind of angry? Kind of miserable? Out of place? Maybe feeling some of all these emotions? Many years ago, I found a greeting card with a funny … Continue reading

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Learning from a Hermit

After I wrote last week’s blog about Antony of Egypt, I found another story about him in a book I was reading for my devotions, A Season in the Desert: Making Time Holy by W. Paul Jones. Here’s the story … Continue reading

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Bono and The Message

It may surprise you to learn that there is a connection between Bono, the lead singer for the famous Irish rock group U2, and Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Bible called The Message. I first learned a little about this … Continue reading

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A Day Fit for a King

King, The Rev. Dr Martin Luther, Jr. He holds such a significant place in modern American history. He, Anne Frank, and Barbara Walters were all born in 1929. Mind-blowing. He is one of those pre-eminent figures that have a hallowed … Continue reading

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We Shall Overcome . . .

Today we commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We remember the song that set the tone for the struggle of African-Americans, and all downtrodden people, to regain their civil rights. The first verse especially has come to … Continue reading

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A Star is Born

In 1954 Judy Garland and James Mason starred in A Star is Born. In 1976 Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson played the leading roles, and now in 2018 Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper have assumed the roles for A Star … Continue reading

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Ticket Prices

I am soooo out of touch with ticket prices! They take my breath away. A lower level seat to watch the Green Bay Packers costs $2284.05, IF it’s available. (Can you tell where I’m from?) A ticket to a Celine … Continue reading

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