It’s hard to believe that this summer will mark 12 years since I had my first two heart stents, which would be followed a couple years later by a double bypass. (You don’t know the meaning of pain until you’ve had your chest cracked open.) During the cardiac rehab program that followed my stents, I…
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With my wife managing our church’s food pantry and both of us serving twice a month at a dinner for the homeless, we have considerable experience working with the down-and-out. Repeated exposure to those who are “milking the system,” traveling about in search of handouts, or showing up at various occasions besotted or high on…
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One of our most pleasant discoveries in recent months was Ticket to Ride. This board game hearkens to childhood memories of riding trains and visiting our favorite aunt in Chicago. Going into the Windy City in pre-interstate days, we always passed over the historic (and rather smelly) stockyards, where the rails seemed to never end. “Ticket…
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At the end of next week, Donald Trump will take office as the nation’s 44th president (Grover Cleveland having served twice). I, for one, am glad about this. Not because Trump won the election, but because the transfer of power from Barack Obama will proceed peacefully. Just as it did when Obama replaced George W.…
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In just over a week (the same day that the nation observes Martin Luther King Day), Jim Justice will be sworn in as West Virginia’s newest governor. There is no telling how successful he will be; we’ll have to check back in four years and see what developed during the interim. Yet, I have to…
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With 2016 about to sink into the rear-view mirror, it’s worth reflecting on what gives life meaning. I found myself thinking about that more this year, especially after a repeat viewing of Cast Away, the popular movie starring Tom Hanks. We had watched the film more than a decade ago after our daughter loaned us…
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A Charlie Brown Christmas celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. When it premiered I doubt TV executives expected the 30-minute special to still be airing annually. Since DVDs and the Internet hadn’t been invented, they sure didn’t think it would still be selling copies online during the 21st century. Several years ago, my wife picked up…
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The last time Christmas fell on Sunday (as it does this year), in 2011, I remember seeing a news story about a significant percentage of churches that weren’t holding services. That’s one reason I’m pleased that ours will meet on Dec. 25. I know there are all kinds of reasons that some don’t meet on…
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It’s that time of year when millions go searching for good Christmas movies. We have certain favorites, especially August Rush, whose primary tie to the season is the fact it debuted in our area in early December of 2007. It’s one of those films that never grows old. Because it is so inspiring and the…
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