Faith
Set Free in Prison
On February 7, 2021 by Elle R.When you think of a convicted drug dealer serving time in prison, what words, phrases, thoughts come to mind? Go ahead, you’re allowed to think it. I asked. Scumbag, junkie, loser, murderer, deserved it, rot in jail, lost cause. How about these instead? Beloved, redeemable, contrite, friend, daughter, born again Christian, Child of the
Faith
My Brownie Badge
On February 6, 2021 by Elle R.Growing up, I participated in two weekly extracurricular activities. The first one was known as ‘C.C.D.’ C.C.D. was a complete mystery to me as kid. I had no clue what the initials “C.C.D.” stood for. Other children who attended obnoxiously referred to this activity as ‘Central City Dump.’ This set the tone accordingly. I knew
Faith
Home is Where the Heart is
On January 19, 2021 by Elle R.I openly admit to not liking the guttural sound of the German language. My best friend spent a number of years living in Germany while her husband was serving in the U.S. Army there, so we playfully disagree on the ‘beauty’ of the language. She loves the German language while I agree with Irish comedian
Faith
When Happily Ever After Gets a New Address
On November 28, 2020 by Elle R.I recently traveled to beautiful Bucks County, Pennsylvania for a much-needed respite. The houses there are deliberately spaced apart leaving room for large fields. Verdant in summer, they lay fallow during my November visit, inhabited only by large flocks of Canadian geese. Bucks County is the setting to the 1940 play, “George Washington Slept Here,”
Faith
Thankful for Life, Lice, and Death
On November 17, 2020 by Elle R.In 1892, a baby boy was born in South Africa. His parents named him John. When John was three years old, his mother and baby brother returned to their native England. John’s father was expected to join them a little later, but he died before he could be reunited with his family. His father’s death
Faith
Brain Ninjas
On October 27, 2020 by Elle R.Our life drastically changed course a week ago. We are the parents of a daughter who has struggled for many years with substance abuse. We dread “the call.” The call is when you are told that your child has died, and their struggle has ended. One week ago, our phone rang in the early hours
Faith
Is Jesus At Church?
On July 1, 2020 by Elle R.Yesterday the church I attend was broken into. I started asking the typical safety and security questions, “Was anyone hurt?” (No.) “How did they get in?” (In military terms – ‘a soft perimeter.’) That led to the more important questions, “Who was it? What did they want?” The short answers were, “A meth addict. Money,
Faith
Keep me a Humblebee
On June 29, 2020 by Elle R.Pop quiz – which bee is more efficient at collecting pollen? A honeybee or a bumblebee? Answer: the bumblebee. I won’t lie, I bought into the idea that because the bumblebee was, as Orkin pest removal says, “large in girth,” that this bee couldn’t compete with its “more slender” cousin, the honeybee. Let’s be real,
Faith
The Cure For Corruption
On May 20, 2020 by Elle R.If you’re familiar with the Holy Spirit, you know how He convicts people of wrong behaviors. A friend of mine calls this uncomfortable awareness, “That stabby feeling.” I got an annoying case of the ‘stabbies’ late last month and have been wrestling with it ever since. It started with borrowing my teen son’s bible. I
Faith
Holdfast
On May 3, 2020 by Elle R.April 30, 2017 · Updated May 3rd, 2020 I went to church today with the six youngest children in tow. The pastor preached about Hebrews chapter 11, which is the “Who’s Who” of faithful people in the Bible. Every verse starts with the same phrase “By faith…” By faith Noah built the ark, by faith Abraham offered Isaac,