Author Archives: joyocala

It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and our Sunday School teacher asked each of us to choose one thing for which we were thankful and share it with the class. I had to think about what I should express my … Continue reading →

Oh, how I love playing around with titles! You might think I’m talking about the NFL Bills beating the New York Jets yesterday (it wasn’t a miracle; they won 32-6) or some other happening in the city of Buffalo. In … Continue reading →

In this week of Thanksgiving, we are reminded to be thankful; thankful for every blessing which we have received.  As the song said, “Count them one by one.”   We could go on and on trying to list every good thing … Continue reading →

For so many of us, in the United States, Thanksgiving is a rather large meal with so many choices.  Even organizations that deliver and serve meals to the elderly and homeless, offer so many choices for this specific meal. Turkey or … Continue reading →

I recently saw this quote and in all its simplicity, it very much resonated with me in the troubling times in which we are living. Our country desperately needs CPR…Christ, Prayer, Repentance. As we all know, CPR is the acronym … Continue reading →

This week, I took part in a discussion about the concept of “doubt” and the role that it plays in our spiritual life. It’s not a word that we spend a lot of time discussing. However, we may spend a … Continue reading →

In Chicago, where I grew up, sunset today is at 4:29 p.m. I remember getting home from school this time of year as twilight was already falling. It was like the day had just slipped away. The shortening of days … Continue reading →

            You may have heard of exponential growth, and, if so, you probably think of it as something that grows really, really fast.  The most commonly given example is bacterial growth.  Bacteria reproduce by division, and in any fixed length … Continue reading →

From our earliest days of memory, we learned about the possibility of a “do-over.” When we messed up on the weekly spelling test, we would want a do-over. Trying to learn an athletic skill; getting that piano etude down; making … Continue reading →

Recently I had the privilege of attending the world premiere of “Breath of Life” composed by Paul Richards.  This dynamic piece of music for orchestra and baritone expresses the precious nature of human breath.  Each of the six parts is … Continue reading →