Judging by the absence of information on many church marquees in our area, coupled with school years that kick off in boiling August temperatures, the Vacation Bible School (VBS) season is over. Many know about those a-week-or-longer-now-trimmed-to-three-day events, so familiar on the church landscape that they are often just called by their three-letter acronym. Not…
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Several times in recent years, I made offhand remarks about the supposed economic recovery of the past few years—and how I doubted we were experiencing such a turnaround. “If someone advertised a plant opening that would hire 500 workers, 5,000 people would show up,” I said one time. Turns out I underestimated the ratio. I…
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Anyone who has been around church for a while has likely heard this familiar passage: “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 MEV). Often, these words of wisdom are delivered in a…
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I’ve never been a huge fan of royal weddings, particularly those that are held at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Yet, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the wall-to-wall news coverage accorded the recent nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That included a cover theme in Time magazine, which devoted eight stories and a…
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I got in a reflective mood recently, during a morning devotional time with my wife. The book we are using asked what memorial places are special to you and what makes them so significant. My first answer was the headstone our son-in-law placed in the garden outside the home where he and our daughter lived—and…
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Together with some friends, my wife and I are nearing the end of New City Catechism, a 52-question study about basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Since we meet only twice a month, at one question per session it’s taken awhile to wind our way through. Yet, we have enjoyed going through it and reflecting…
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While vacationing last October in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, I saw a TV commercial for a candidate in neighboring Virginia. I don’t remember the office the candidate was campaigning for, but it was a statewide election. In other words, no small change. The pitch: the candidate vowed to outlaw spoofing calls by telemarketers. “Wow,” I…
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I qualify as only a casual sports fan. However, having cut my journalistic teeth as a part-time sportswriter in high school, I still follow developments in the sports world. And, when it comes to sports, I would label last month’s Supreme Court decision opening the door to widespread sports betting as one of the most…
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In his younger, single, more carefree days, a friend working as a congressional aide lived near Capitol Hill, giving him a short walk to work. The only way he could afford to live there: he split the $1,800-a-month rent with five other guys so they could afford their modest rooming house. So, I wasn’t a…
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It seems everyone has heard of sriracha, the ubiquitous spicy sauce. It’s not my favorite, but only because I discovered another tasty brand at Aldi’s (a clue that we are bargain shoppers). However, I had not known of the 2013 documentary on the sauce and its maker, Huy Fong Foods, until I picked up a…
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