Author Archives: joyocala

I’ve always had a sweet tooth. Given a choice between steak or cake, I’ll take mine triple-layered, frosted and sprinkled. Sweet Jesus . . . Your compassion, your gentleness, your grace, your mercy. You satisfy my cravings for peace. In … Continue reading →

Behind my Grampa’s house was an old shed. On the floor were pots – piles of terra cotta clay pots in all sizes. They were mostly old, dirty, and crusted with a layer of white mineral salts. Some had chips; … Continue reading →

Today is Flag Day in the U.S.  It commemorates the adoption of the United States flag by the Continental Congress in 1777. I remember being taught the significance of the flag in school. Thirteen stripes represented the original 13 colonies. … Continue reading →

  It seems that in times of trial and tribulation there is often fear, dismay, sometimes anger, disbelief, confusion, doubt. As human beings, I believe all of these are somewhat normal reactions to a crisis of one kind or another. … Continue reading →

I was pondering the woman mentioned in Matthew 9:20, “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.” All she needed to do was s-t-r-e-t-c-h … Continue reading →

American Restoration – I often watched this show on the History Channel. Week after week, worn vintage items were brought to Rick Dale’s workshop. Week after week, even when items appeared to be far beyond repair, he restored them to … Continue reading →

Living in an affluent society, we often look up to certain people as a notch above everyone else, the pillars of our villages or cities. We may look to them for solutions to perplexing problems. There are so many issues: … Continue reading →

I remember the ritual of slathering my body with Johnson’s Baby Oil and baking in the sun with the goal of getting a golden tan. A timer was set, reminding me to flip over to make sure that the result … Continue reading →

Where does the time go? I answer the question with this reply, “Into the past.” Doesn’t it? Is certainly is a relative concept to my way of thinking. But, what if I could turn back time? Would I do things … Continue reading →

I think today is the only commemoration of a Native American on the Lutheran Calendar.  Seattle (for whom the city in Washington State is named) was Chief of the Suquamish Tribe and later of the Duwamish Confederacy. He was baptized … Continue reading →