Messy Grace: How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction by Caleb Kaltenbach My rating: 5 of 5 stars Caleb Kaltenbach’s story of how he came to faith in Christ while being raised by two lesbian moms and a closet-gay dad is fascinating in its own right. The biblical teaching… Continue reading Messy Grace – review
I love old Christmas songs. I love new ones too, especially ones that are written by poet / musicians like Carolyn Arends. A year ago Arends brought out a new Christmas album, Christmas: The Story of Stories. I enjoyed it then and continue to give it lots of play time this year. On it Arends… Continue reading “Hush, now listen…”
One of the things I love about writing is having pieces accepted for publication. One of the things that I don't love is the publicizing and marketing that's needed when those publications are books. But I know I need to do my part. So when the newest Hot Apple Cider anthology (Hot Apple Cider with… Continue reading The gift of people
Christmas Cake November or early December is the time to start on this year’s Christmas cake Pour several cups of sweet anticipation into a large bowl - the first snowfall when we hauled out the Christmas records - all the dolls in the Sear's catalogue - paint smells from the basement cut in a pound… Continue reading Christmas Cake
When my friend Laurel asked me to be part of her Advent blog, Toward Christmas, I was delighted to accept. On these 24 days of preparing for Christmas, six of us are reviewing the Jesse Tree characters of Jesus' story. One of the characters I chose to write about was Jacob (I think it was… Continue reading Alert to blessings
A Christmas Prayer Bring the Christmas life into our lives. Don’t let the hustle-hurry steal our joy the cashier lineups, traffic jams annoy. Flood us with peace till Christmas day arrives. Help us to hear the words of Christmas songs and let them calm us in the busy throngs. When beggars hold out hands,… Continue reading A Chistmas Prayer
Fit for Prayer by Kimberley Payne My rating: 4 of 5 stars In Fit for Prayer—Learn How to Fit Prayer and Physical Activity Into Your Daily Routine, author and lifestyle coach Kimberley Payne promises to help us “... gain insight into how to incorporate prayer and fitness into your daily routine”- Fit for Prayer, p.… Continue reading Fit for Prayer (review)
Flex Your Spirit by Kimberley Payne My rating: 4 of 5 stars In Flex Your Spirit—Discover a New Way to Express Yourself with God Through Journal Writing and Stretching, author and lifestyle coach Kimberley Payne promises to “...unite physical and spiritual health to help you lose weight and develop a deeper relationship with God” –… Continue reading Flex Your Spirit (review)
A few years ago, my friend Laurel realized that Christmas would never be the way she remembered it or the way she was acccustomed to celebrating it. Her two kids (with autism spectrum disorder) couldn't handle the upheaval and stimuli. The family had to cut way back on decorating, gift-giving, traveling, eating… The story of… Continue reading Advent in poetry
Thanksgiving Lunch at the Mennonite Church We’ve been smelling coffee for a while now as the sermon drones on and on but finally it’s benediction time and “Thanks for the food we are about to partake. Amen.” Old and young crowd down the stairs to the warm, fragrant basement claim chairs at the long table… Continue reading Thanksgiving Lunch at the Mennonite Church
Violet Nesdoly 