Author Archives: joyocala

It is no wonder that Handel chose many passages from the book of Isaiah when he wrote the Messiah.  It’s one of the most important prophetic books in the Old Testament.  It may be a collection of writings by different … Continue reading →

        My walking shoes on, water bottle with me, and off I go.  I discovered if I am constantly looking down, I notice each bit of gravel, pine cone, sticks and seem to slow down.  If, however, I look ahead my pace picks … Continue reading →

I recently ran across this parody of the poem T’was the Night Before Christmas. It is appropriate for this time of the year and gives us something to think about as we traverse through the holiday season. Twas the night … Continue reading →

I was thinking about this topic today. It came to me that the advent attitude of anticipation, preparation and excitement is not something that we should reserve for the first weeks of December.  During Advent, we spend time waiting for … Continue reading →

Hannukah starts at sundown tonight. These eight days celebrate the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. A ritual associated with this season is the lighting of the nine-branched menorah. Each night one candle is used to light an increasing number … Continue reading →

 While preparing a blog on the 613 commandments of the Old Testament, I was reading one of them in Leviticus about gleaning, Leviticus 19:9-10, reads “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges … Continue reading →

It was little known as recently as fifty years ago, this thing called an Advent wreath. Now, even in churches that insist they are “non-liturgical”, they are widely adopted. It can still, however, be a conundrum even for us so-called … Continue reading →

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14 NIV This text sounds straight out of a Christmas Eve worship … Continue reading →

      Heads up…I am not a lumberjack, nor a carpenter; however, I do know there are different saws for different jobs. Some examples I am familiar with are: hacksaw – I’ve seen them used on TV/movies when the escapee from prison tries to … Continue reading →

In most places in the world, there are rules and regulations for almost everything. In Nebraska, if a child burps during a church service, the parents might be arrested.  It is unlawful in Arizona to have a sleeping donkey in … Continue reading →