Inspire a Fire

Posted by Ron on Jun 19, 2013

A Dad’s Greatest Strength

The swift current of the an icy North Branch Skokomish river was up to my chest and I hadn’t even reached the halfway point of my crossing. I’d stepped in on a whim. My father had taken the trail and footbridge over the river and sat on the other side. The smart thing would have been for me to do the same. I didn’t do the smart thing because a) I was nine and b) I was–and still...

Posted by Kim Jackson on Jun 18, 2013

What Time Is It?

As a child I remember asking my father, “Daddy, what time is it?” to which he would reply, “What time do you want it to be?” “Daaaaddy! What time is it, really?” “Kimmie, it’s later than it’s ever been.” “Daaaaddy!” Those verbal volleys would continue until Dad would finally say, “4:15,” which was a letdown after all that word play I was reminded of my Dad’s philosophy on time...

Posted by Beth Fortune on Jun 16, 2013

Daddy’s Coat: A Coat of Love

“. . . And by him we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15 NIV). His suit hung on the hanger in his closet, pressed and ready to be worn. However, neither it nor any of the other pieces of his clothing would ever be worn by him again. After losing his battle with lung cancer at the age of 64, my daddy no longer needed any of the outer garments he used to wear. Months later, when my family and I were...

Posted by Will Schmit on Jun 13, 2013

Church – Mundane or Miraculous?

We’ve been visiting other churches. There must be a way to say that without seeming like a scriptural adulterer. The first Sunday out from our regular congregation was to hear a special speaker, W.Paul Young, author of The Shack. Very justifiable, he is a wonderful speaker and a very graceful individual. Meeting him gave me hope for Christianity, and that struck me hard – I didn’t realize...

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes on Jun 10, 2013

A Fatherless Journey: A Walk Down No Memory Lane

Dear Daddy, I did it again tonight. I went looking for you. Well, at least the faint outlines of your footprints. I found the street you used to live on and tried to figure out which house it was. I wandered. And wondered. I knew you lived in one of the upstairs apartments on Observatory Drive. I searched the older houses, the ones that may have been there almost 50 years ago. From the street, I gazed into...

Posted by Vonda Skelton on Jun 6, 2013

Beauty From the Far Side of the Hill

Gary and I just celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary. And even though we’ve had a happy life together, I just can’t believe we’re here. How could I possibly be old enough to celebrate a 44th anniversary? I remember the first time I realized I was losing my youthful edge. As a conservative young wife and mother, I was relatively content. After all, Daddy said I was beautiful, and my husband,...

Posted by Ron on Jun 5, 2013

Smile…Save a Life

This weekend a ninth grade girl from my son’s high school committed suicide. This is the second teen suicide in our community this year. Mind you, I do not live in a major city. I live in Oxford, Michigan, poulation 14,000 give or take. In both of these cases, and in others over recent years, you can almost use the same newspaper article for each one: She never showed any signs of...

Posted by Kim Jackson on Jun 4, 2013

More than a Single Surprise

I stared at the cars lining the driveway. I hadn’t invited anyone to my house. What in the world is going on? Walking the familiar path to the patio, I caught a glimpse of something colorful waving in the breeze. Suddenly people began popping up from behind shrubs and lawn furniture. “Surprise! It’s a single girl shower!” What? A single girl shower? I looked at the faces of friends...