Brokenness Produces Beneficial Results
As September transitions into October this weekend, more and more cornfields are being harvested around the county. Several have already been chopped for silage while others await picking for the billions of kernels that will be ground into feed for chickens, cattle, hogs, and more. Harvest time is always a…
The Bible’s Influence In Our Culture
“To everything there is a season,” and tomorrow marks the beginning of autumn. Fall decorations already grace homes and Pumpkin Spice is the flavor of the month. That introductory phrase about a season for everything is actually a Biblical reference from Ecclesiastes 3 reminding us that life is filled with…
Listening For God to Speak
Nearly three years ago, St. Luke Covenant Brethren Church installed chimes that broadcast beautiful music four times a day. I first heard this sitting on my porch one morning having my quiet time with God but have since heard them in my treestand, in my turkey blind, and at various…
Digging Through Megiddo’s Past And Our Own
Rising roughly 200 feet above the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel are the ruins of the ancient city of Megiddo. This huge mound covering 35 acres is actually a compressed stack of many different levels of human occupation and is the site of continued archaeological research. There are many such…
Laboring For The Lord
This coming Monday, America celebrates Labor Day. And it should be a celebration for it recognizes an essential value that has raised this nation from meager beginnings to the most powerful on earth. I’m thankful for parents, siblings, and mentors that taught me the importance of hard work. They instilled…
Crawling Along Route 11’s History
This Saturday is the great Route 11 Yard Crawl! It will span the length of Shenandoah County and extend into neighboring counties as well. Depending on your zeal for used treasures and your toleration for traffic you either love it or hate this annual event. Thankfully, it does bring commerce…
Education Without Jesus Produces Clever Devils
It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over for many students. With the opening of Shenandoah County Schools in less than two weeks, time is short for that last vacation. As a parent of three graduates from our county schools and as one myself, I’m very grateful for the…
The Mystery and Miracle of the Watermelon
Here we are at the end of July and our gardens are coming into their own, especially if we’ve nursed them along with some supplemental irrigation. One treat that many have been enjoying for a month or more is watermelons! These are perfect summertime refreshers that provide a snack and…
Winning the Lotto Many Times Over
As I write this column, several lottery jackpots promise their winners enormous prizes. The Powerball is at one billion dollars while Mega Millions offers $720 million and the California Super Lotto only proffers a modest $77 million. Many people purchase tickets hoping against hope that theirs will be the one…
Water Truck Christians
Summer days are bearing down upon us once again with their searing heat and high humidity. Thankfully, the Shenandoah Valley has been getting frequent showers to keep our crops, gardens, and lawns watered and our wells and reservoirs relatively full. For those with diminished water supplies, we are fortunate to…