Time magazine probably expressed the feelings of millions with its recent cover story, “2020: The Worst Year Ever.” However, at the risk of appearing insensitive, tone deaf, or braggadocious, I think of 2020 as my best year ever. Not because it was my best year for income in more than 35 years of freelancing. I’m…
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We call it our “Charlie Brown” tree. Measuring 20 inches high and containing just a few branches, it reminds us of the one that made “A Charlie Brown Christmas” into must-see seasonal TV after its 1965 debut. Like so many knickknacks that have made their way into our home, we aren’t sure where we bought…
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Answering my smartphone used to be a pedestrian process: touch the green button when the phone rang and it answered, even if the phone was in sleep mode. Then came a new method I never asked for: to answer, I have to punch the button and swipe right after it rings. I discovered this the…
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While much of the nation lapsed into a frenzy of presidential vote-counting myopia during election week, I spent time quietly celebrating the passage of Proposition 22 in California. I even came up with a private chant: “Up with the gig economy! Down with the Nanny State!” I cheered because the measure turned back an effort…
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Recently, as we neared the end of the week’s lesson in our favorite Bible study material, a closing summary point suggested reflecting on the salvation God provides through His Son and writing a prayer of thanks. I spontaneously jotted, “Dear Lord, thank You for the salvation that rescued me from certain disaster, changed me from…
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If life were a movie, then this Saturday Marshall University’s football team would be playing at East Carolina. ESPN’s “Gameday” would be there, starting an extended broadcast at 9 a.m. to recap a tragic—and yet historic—day. They could include an interview with actor Matthew McConaughey, who played the lead role in We Are Marshall. The…
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New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction Wanda Brunstetter, and her daughter, Jean, did a book signing last Friday, Oct. 30 at a Christian store in Shipshewana. Alas, my wife and I didn’t make it—we were four weeks too early. Still, I feel Wanda deserves a shoutout for being the primary reason we visited…
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A few weeks ago, a good friend told us that after six months of remote work at home during spring’s lockdown phase of life and the nervousness that followed, she will be there forever. The reason: her employer (a nationwide company) is closing most of its offices. The one in our area will remain for…
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I suspect numerous readers of Facebook posts, tweets, and news stories haven’t even noticed that in recent months persons with black skin are now referred to as Black. The capitalization has been introduced because media organizations want to express solidarity with and sensitivity to those of African-American descent. So, many are treating the term like…
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Because of all the pandemic’s uncertainties regarding travel, tourism, and related issues in the spring, we wound up postponing a planned long weekend with our two daughters and their husbands to mid-September. After only taking off Memorial Day and Labor Day this year (with the Fourth of July on a Saturday, that doesn’t really count),…
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