This has been a particularly difficult week, and I confess to have fallen prey to anxiety and fretting. Worry can give small problems such long shadows that they become giants of immense, irresistible proportions. But on the other hand, I fully realize that there is no enemy too strong or foe too powerful to stand [...]
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“It came to pass . . . that the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7). The education of our faith is incomplete if we have not learned that there is a providence of loss, a ministry of failing and of fading things, a gift of emptiness. The material insecurities of life make for its spiritual establishment. [...] When we first met the Brown family in 1982, a problem immediately surfaced: what to call Mr. Brown. His wife, Judy, referred to him as "Bill," but their mailbox said "Foy." My wife soon resolved the dilemma by dubbing him "Mr. Bill Foy," a term of endearment that even his recent death hasn't erased. Some knew [...] Despite last week's boost of crisp October air, my first hike since a knee injury almost four years ago challenged me more than expected. Bowing to my wife's cautions, I had chosen a rather public place to hike–just in case. Nevertheless, intricate spider webs completely spanned the trail sporadically, proving that no hikers had recently traversed [...] George Frederick Handel's career was afflicted with setbacks. Twice bankrupt, he had fallen out of favor with audiences, and financial woes mounted. With such strains upon him, he plunged into the task of writing Messiah. Servants reported that for the 24-day duration of the project, his food was often untouched, and his manuscript was frequently [...] George Frederick Handel's career was afflicted with setbacks. Twice bankrupt, he had fallen out of favor with audiences, and financial woes mounted. With such strains upon him, he plunged into the task of writing "Messiah". Servants reported that for the 24-day duration of the project, his food was often untouched, and his manuscript was frequently [...] When recently asked for some advice for a new graduate, my thoughts flashed back almost 200 years. In his diary, William Clark described many of the intense struggles that confronted the famous Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Ocean. But hidden within his matter-of-fact notation for June 15, 1805, nuggets of timeless insight for any [...] Without exception, each of us will drink from the bitter waters of life. I was recently reminded of an event from 4,000 years ago which gives me great encouragement in such times. The people of Israel were captives in Egypt for 400 years, and the Bible book of Exodus tells of their release. With many mighty [...] We have just returned from a hiking trip to the Leatherwood wilderness area. Temperatures were unseasonably warm for January–even record highs. It never got below 40 at night, and the temperatures during the days got up into the 70's. We took far too many clothes, thinking that it would be much cooler. I don't know how [...] This has been a particularly difficult week, and I confess to have fallen prey to anxiety and fretting. Worry can give small problems such long shadows that they become giants of immense, irresistible proportions. But on the other hand, I fully realize that there is no enemy too strong or foe too powerful to stand [...] |
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