Janet's Blog

I remember the Halloween when Meagan was two; she was just the right size to fit into her life-size Raggedy Ann's clothes.  That same year, Erin was excited to wear an Indian costume that her Dad had made and worn years before.  Of course, we embellished the costume significantly, wrapping her favorite doll, Jackie, to be a papoose, but the old costume gave us a good start.  (We still have that Indian costume in our basement storeroom, but it just wouldn't be politically correct to wear it now.) Meagan was three when she decided that she wanted to be "a band" for Halloween.  I don't know where she came up with that idea, but she was adamant--she just had to be a band!  It was all she could talk about for weeks.  I was used to assembling costumes for the girls, but I wasn't sure how I would come up with a band costume.  Luckily, I didn't have to make one after all. That October, I accompanied Bill on a business trip to I-can't-remember-where....

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  I guess we all need to be reminded to express our appreciation for our pastors, since many of us have a tendency to take them for granted.  That's the way it is for pastors who follow God's calling and do their jobs so faithfully.  Pretty soon, the people they serve come to expect their self-sacrificing hard work to continue forever, forgetting that pastors are people, too, who often struggle with the same things the rest of us do.  Even pastors need encouragement. Through the years, I've known a lot of pastors, and I've come to realize that many of them share a few similar qualities that I really, really appreciate. First of all, the only effective pastors genuinely love God, and speak freely of his great love for them and all people.  They know Jesus personally and are not afraid to say so.  They long for others to know him, too; that's the main reason they became pastors in the first place. They strive to love...

It has been a tough month in our community.  A young marine died suddenly and inexplicably in his California barracks, leaving his parents and younger brothers in shock.  A horrific traffic accident claimed the life of one young mom and leaves another clinging to life in a hospital halfway across the state.  A friend's dearly loved family member died, seemingly before it was time.      Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;      The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide...     Even when we are not directly affected by unexpected death, such tragedies make us stop and think about our own mortality.  If you are like me, your mind flashes back to past trauma in your own life, or in the lives of those you love.  We empathize with those who have lost so much, because we understand, all too well, just what agony they may experience.      Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;...

Ever since I was a young teen, there have been times when I have been aware of God's presence with me.  He promises that he will never leave us or forsake us, but there are some times when he makes sure that we know he is with us.  I am sure that those times are not the same for everyone who trusts in him, but I am equally sure that he will make his presence known to anyone who wants him to be with them.  So, here, in no particular order, are just ten times when I realize that God is with me: When I see a gorgeous sunset over Scotts Bluff National Monument. Whenever the wind blows. When I smell the fresh fragrance of rain. When I sing praise to God by myself or with the radio, and especially with other believers. When I hold a newborn baby.   When I read his Word, the Bible. When I turn to him in prayer. Late at night, when I can't sleep. When I am sick or hurting, or in danger. When I mourn the death of someone I love. G...

This week's blog is for all those parents and grandparents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders--anyone who takes some responsibility for raising our children and teens to become strong in their faith and love for God. It's never been easy, and it seems to be getting harder and harder as the years go by.  There are just so many distractions in our world today, and so many voices clamoring for our kids' attention.  You know what they are:  endless electronic images, games, movies, and social media, and peers who are influenced by them.  Even young children feel pressured to possess the newest electronics, watch the latest movies, wear the current fashions, listen to current popular music.  Relaxed moral values have become so universally accepted that young Christians who strive to be chaste are mocked by their classmates.  The voice of the world seems poised, ready to pounce on every unsuspecting child.  Some Christian parents meet this challenge by in...