My uncle was a storyteller. I remember after a holiday dinner, we would sit at his feet in the living room while he told war stories. Years later, in the book Spearhead, my uncle’s stories came to life as the Sherman tank and the crew, including Clarence the gunner, led the fight for Cologne, and …
Goodness: the 6th of the lineup of Fruits of the Spirit. I like good. Good food, good friends, good times, and a good cold drink of lemonade on a hot summer day. Western culture, perhaps, tends to look at good just as it is defined: something that is to be desired. It pleases us and …
It was one of those days. My husband said something that set me off, and I teetered on the edge of insanity—as many moms do—trying to balance too much. Kids, home, ministry… the stress of holding it all together felt like a constant struggle. His words tipped me over the edge, sending me into a …
I don’t remember when I first heard the song, Self Control. “Self-control is just controlling myself. It’s listening to my heart and doing what is smart. Self-control is the very best way to go, So I think that I’ll control myself.” That was a popular song from the Music Machine back in the 70s. The …
There was a time in my life when I felt like an absolute failure. I was juggling too many responsibilities—work, family, ministry, and commitments I had taken on out of obligation rather than calling. I told myself that if I just worked harder, I could handle it all. But instead of thriving, I was crumbling …
When I was a kid, they called them testimonies. Often, they were someone who had gone through a significant dip in the road, got full of mud, and Jesus cleaned them up. I grew up in a Christian home. There were no big dips and not a lot of mud because of the Christian culture …
The footprints of Katie’s life began on a cold blustery night because well, I made my debut upon the planet in Oregon and it was always cold and blustery. When I was nine years old those footprints were traced to Taiwan. I believe God works in the hearts of our children despite all we …
I love beginnings. Perhaps the excitement of what’s ahead draws me to beginnings. What lies ahead renews hope, excites my passion, and leads me to believe this “fresh beginning” will be better than where I have been. The Bible has many stories that remind us of fresh beginnings. Abraham left the familiar and headed for …
Politics with it’s peaks and values leaves me feeling motion sickness but can you imagine living in China during the rise of the Communist red wave? I was acquainted recently with a family who had a huge impact on my life, even though I never met them. Almost exactly one hundred years ago, In August …
It’s Christmas Eve, and it’s a quiet morning. For many years, quiet and Christmas didn’t go together. We are in a different season now: it’s quiet, which gives me time to ponder. When the kids were young, there were programs and adventures. We never emphasized getting at Christmas time; we focused more on the giving. …