God Uses Our Kiln Times
Most of us don’t think much about where or how our bricks are made, we just enjoy them on our homes, schools, and businesses. For many years, however, bricks were often manufactured close to where they were actually used and Shenandoah County had several such operations. According to county historian,…
God Assigns Our Seats
June is wedding month and nuptial vows are being pledged and recited all over the Valley these days. Thankfully, the weather promises to be a little better this weekend than last and those who have planned outdoor celebrations will hopefully be able to see their dreams come to fruition. Modern…
Lessons From Our Battlefields
In just a few days, we will observe the 74th anniversary of D-Day, the incredibly heroic and courageous invasion of the beaches of Normandy by US and other Allied troops that turned the tide of World War II and eventually resulted in the defeat of Adolf Hitler. We are fortunate enough…
The Pungently Powerful Arbutus!
When my siblings and I were going through mom’s things after her passing, we came across an old booklet she had kept but which we hadn’t seen in many years. The best way to describe it would be as a hybrid between a diary, a journal, and a scrapbook. On…
Exploring Our Spiritual Ancestry
Researching one’s genealogy has become a very popular hobby. It’s fascinating to look back and discover not only who our ancestors were, but how they lived, the challenges they faced, and where and why they moved. With the help of various websites and tests, you can even trace your DNA…
Avoiding Evil’s Appearance
Mother’s Day always brings happy memories for the wonderful blessing of my mom. Although I think of her often, this annual holiday is a special reminder of one of the best gifts God ever gave me. As I’ve shared before, our mother, like many others, was a woman of incredible…
The Miracle of the Israeli Nation
May 14 marks a special day in world history. On that date seventy years ago, a true miracle occurred when Israel was reborn. We should recognize this occasion and celebrate this anniversary with them. In AD 70, the Roman army obliterated Jerusalem following Jewish revolts and uprisings. Determined to prevent…
Little Things Add Up
I love this time of year! The spring flowers are in full bloom, the grass is emerald green, and the birds are bedecked in their finest feathers. Even the trees are blooming to attract pollinators necessary to produce seeds, fruits, and nuts and the recent rains have accelerated the beautification…
Boundary Stones, Witness Trees, and Iron Stakes
I found the article in Monday’s paper about Washington, DC’s boundary stones very interesting. Having just spoken about such things the day before in Sunday worship, it was especially enlightening to see how the early surveyors and planners took great pains to carefully align and place forty rocks around the…
God’s Manufacturing Process
Before becoming a fulltime pastor, I taught Agriculture for fifteen years at Central High School. One of the privileges I had during that time was to take students on various field trips throughout Shenandoah County and beyond. I always believed that students learned more “out there” than they did in…