Oh little town of Bethlehem With your sky so black May God impart to human heart The wisdom that we lack “Bethlehem” Jack Henderson and Linford Detweiler, performed by Over the Rhine and Jack Henderson I spent the first 10 years of my life in a church that did not observe Christmas as a religious … More Day 2: Darkness
God sent a man to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. He himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. -John 1:5 NLT We are … More Here it Is: An Over the Rhine Advent
Originally published at Our Words Collaborative “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” -Matthew 11:35 NLT My husband is a die hard fan of his undergraduate university, a school in our state with a national reputation of excellence in several areas of study and an athletic … More Will they know YOU?
“You’re beautiful, but you’re empty…One couldn’t die for you. Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But my rose, all on her own, is more important than all of you together, since she’s the one I’ve watered. Since she’s the one I put under glass, since she’s the one … More Since she’s my rose
I heard the indicator on my watch double-beep. The last waypoint before the end of my route was approaching. I knew once I crossed that point I would be home free. I might even pick up speed and finish with a sprint. But at the moment I felt like someone was physically pulling me backward. … More Not grow weary
Apparently today is National Poetry Day? I thought April was all about the poetry, but Twitter says it is National Poetry Day, so it must be true. I’m working on so many unfinished drafts of not poetry, but here’s a poem I wrote about my grandma Norma Jean 15 years ago (FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, WHAT?). … More Southern Comfort
When I was a little kid I used to sit for hours in my mom’s old bedroom in my grandparents’ house, at the foot of a dresser that is now in my own guest room, and look at old pictures. The bottom two drawers of that dresser were full to overflowing with photographs, and I … More Magic
I can’t remember the exact cartoon–possibly a Looney Tunes bit on a Saturday morning, or a Tom and Jerry escapade one afternoon after school–but I remember the scene: some animated character was struggling with whether or not to smash his adversary to bits as tiny angel and devil versions of himself perched on each of … More Voices in the night
(Originally posted at Our Words Collaborative on July 8, 2016) One of the most powerful sermons I’ve ever heard was at a Christmas Eve service a few years ago, delivered by the lead pastor of the large community church we used to attend. He always nails the Advent story, bringing new life and different angles … More On the fourth day
A few weeks ago the girl went for a walk with our neighbor and her daughter and their puppy. (We have put a moratorium on the addition of new animals to our household, so she takes opportunities where she can get them.) As soon as she got back to our yard she told me I … More Snakes in the Grass
one small corner of the universe 