Maybe your initial reaction is "how cute, a page full of hearts." But it's not. Look at it again. I started with the big question mark in the middle. I had just listened to a podcast that had proposed some questions to consider in order to answer an original question. It set my mind and... Continue Reading →
One Thread, Many Threads
Last weekend I added another single thread to a Network of 954 other threads. I'm not sure why or how the image of connected threads came about before the weekend, but it did. https://vmwishes.com/2018/01/24/a-single-flame-a-single-thread/ Over the course of 4 full days, 955 of us who are involved in children, youth, and family ministry gathered to... Continue Reading →
A single flame, a single thread…
When one feels so small and little, when it seems one isn’t enough for any impact, when a single flame seems to only be able to cast light out a few inches (look up foot candle), and when a single thread seems to be able to hold so little and offer little strength… Multiply that... Continue Reading →
A Parable…
There once was a family of children who lived well in community. Though children, their ages varied greatly. Though family, their backgrounds were diverse. And while they lived well together, it is not to say that life was always smooth sailing. Life was a shared adventure in work, learning, worship, play, and service. Bumps along... Continue Reading →
Seen and Unseen
There is plenty of material out there on the reliability of witnesses' testimonies. Ask five people to recount the story of the same incident they all were present for and you will get 5 variations on what actually happened. That's understandable for an unanticipated event that people weren't necessarily prepared for or paying close attention to.... Continue Reading →
Be Countercultural
I originally started this post the day after Reformation. Then I came across a proposed modern day list of 95 Theses in a blog piece shared on Facebook. I thought, yup, this says it better than me. So I put this blog entry aside. But it keeps pulling me back...or maybe the Holy Spirit keeps pulling... Continue Reading →
Friendships: Taming and Responsibility
I for one, was seriously anticipating the theatre release of the 2015 version of The Little Prince when in the week it was to debut, the movie was completely dropped from the lineup. Then it was scooped up by a streaming or some other online service. BUMMER. I really wanted to see this version on... Continue Reading →
Bread…Again…
Back in early March I wrote about bread baking. About how the most simple recipe calls for 4 very basic and humble ingredients. Yet with care, proper handling, and patience, those basic ingredients turn into something wonderful...a pile of sticky goop turns into something golden...into love. You can read the original post here. I've baked many... Continue Reading →
What is Your “It”?
Why would I be stepping into it, I was asked? I don’t know. First, do I want to step into it? I don’t know. Is it important? If having nothing is fine, then there’s no need to step into it. Is it better to have something than to have nothing? If there is nothing, will... Continue Reading →
Flour, Yeast, Water, and Salt
As the chapter title of a new bread book I bought asks, "What is it about bread?" The most basic of recipes is just 4 very humble ingredients. Flour. Yeast. Water. Salt. The process could be fairly quick and simple, or as many as 12 distinct steps and hours from start to finish. So what... Continue Reading →