As a young man, Dr. J. I. Packer said: “Theology is bad for one’s soul.”  What? This from a world-renowned theologian? Instead of a study of God transforming hard hearts into soft, tender expressions of God’s

Last week we took a quick look at Paul and Silas singing at midnight. Acts 16 tells their story. They were arrested under false pretenses; they were severely beaten, thrown into the inner prison and locked in stocks…

Several years after Mark’s death God seared into our souls a vivid image of the privilege of corporate worship within our covenant community (i.e., our circle of believing Christians friends) as described in Today’s Treasure - Hebrews 10:25…

Our son Mark’s death stripped away all religious pretenses. I wanted, no I needed to know that everything I had taught, everything I said I believed about the love and sovereignty of God for me, for each of His children was true…

I know what the title of your next book should be,” our friend said as she greeted us after church.  She continued, “Read Acts 16 where Paul and Silas are imprisoned unfairly, and you’ll see why I think the title should be, Will you sing at midnight?”

Leonard Cohen, author of A Broken Hallelujah was Jewish. For a time he also practiced Buddhism. He was not a professing Christian and there is a dark message in this song as well. In explaining the message of A Broken Hallelujah Cohen said…

Frederick Buechner, American author, theologian and preacher among many other things said that praise is not offering God compliments but that we “learn to praise by paying attention.” Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote Today’s Treasure…

About a year ago, I was asked to teach a workshop on the topic of grief in the context of ONE Annapolis, a women’s regional conference sponsored by our denomination. As I thought about how to develop my topic, our son, Chuck, preached a message titled A Broken Hallelujah. As I listened…

It’s likely that I have never walked where you are walking, but I do know what shattered dreams and broken hearts are all about.  My husband Chuck and I experienced four years of intense church conflict in an independent…

Our pastor son and friends officially launched Stone’s Throw church, a new congregation in Middletown, Delaware, and I am suddenly whisked down a tunnel of memories. God is opening my eyes to something I can barely get my mind around…

Are you tired? Weary?  Are you beginning today with an already overflowing schedule?  Are too many people clamoring for your time? Or do you dread getting up in the morning because a new day means another twenty-four hours to live with a broken heart?

The bad report about a friend stunned me. Without hesitation, I believed it. Anger, sadness, disappointment, all of those emotions followed me around the house as I prepared for a busy day of running errands and catching up on undone tasks.

“PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T STOP PRAYING. I DON’T KNOW HOW IT WORKS BUT I KNOW IT’S THE ONLY REASON I CAN FACE THE NEXT MINUTE.”…

One of the most popular posts on my old blog was “An Old Lady’s Poem”. My mother-in-law's physical ailments force us to confront the ravages of aging, as she has spent time in nursing homes after repeated falls. She is a stubborn, strong woman who…

“Grammy, can I help you cook?” I welcomed the opportunity to spend one on one time with eight your old Eva as the other grands busied themselves at Cousins Camp with volleyball, fishing, board games and playing in the Poconos woods…

In last Sunday’s introduction to Treasures Along the Way, I shared these words from a podcast by Susan Hunt and Karen Hodge…

In response to a blog I wrote on overwhelmed young moms, a tired mother asked, "What if those overwhelming days seem to be blending into each other? I know my children are my ministry, but I really don't feel up to the job. I keep praying, but I must not be hearing God's response. He allowed me to be in this place at this time so why do I feel I can't do this.?”….

"Should we schedule the funeral right now?" My startled response to Chuck's question lasted only a few seconds. He had just bought me a large gardenia tree for Mother's Day. Gardenias are one of my favorite flowers. Their beauty and scent are comfort…

The phone call left me breathless. I knew God had just given me a glimpse of Him working behind the scenes in the life of a friend's child, a child for whom I regularly pleaded for the Lord to remember as His covenant child. A child raised by believing parent…

Chuck and I joined the autumn ritual of cheering on our twinny grandchildren as they ran up and down the soccer fields, each one displaying their unique personalities in the way they chased the soccer ball and interacted with teammates…