A few weeks ago, my best friend took me to the DuQuoin State Fair for a concert with Switchfoot and Lifehouse. She was a lifelong fan of Switchfoot, while I adored Lifehouse. It was a win-win for both of us, especially as we were equipped with food-on-a-stick and strawberry-lemon shakeups. Jennifer scored excellent seats, and … [Read more…]
Bryan Stevenson is famous for this quote that sears my brain: “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve done.” Stevenson, an attorney, is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative that fights injustice and discrimination among the poor, incarcerated and condemned. You can read more about him and his … [Read more…]
I was standing in my kitchen before work this morning, and my chest puffed up with pride. Not only was my kitchen relatively clean for once, but it was MY kitchen. My clean countertops. My sliced up fruit in the fridge and my leftovers waiting for lunch. My eyes traveled to my kitchen faucet, dented … [Read more…]
Spending a few days back in Paducah, I’ve had some time to adequately reflect on my life the past two weeks. I spent two straight weeks at church camps. One with our presbytery at Brandon Springs in the Land Between the Lakes recreation area, and the other with Missouri Presbytery at Camp Cumberland. My first … [Read more…]
“Do you have a public phone?” It’s one of the most-asked questions we hear at the library. That and, “I”m looking for a movie. I don’t know the title. I don’t know what it’s about or who’s in it, but I remember it had a green cover.” We do not have a public telephone at … [Read more…]
I’m going to call 2017 the Year of Goal Setting. Which sounds odd coming from my mind to my fingers to my blog now in April. I think I’ll credit it to Easter and the season of spring, renewal and restoration. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to dream and set goals. … [Read more…]
Yesterday’s Youth Sunday School lesson was a quick hitter, inspired by a slide we went over in my Christian Heritage class last week as we concluded a lecture on social justice and the Church. The slide: “If the Church mediates the struggles of its people, then… What are the struggles of its people? What is the … [Read more…]
Jesus has just called Matthew the tax collector as the final member of his somewhat cantankerous band of 12 disciples when Jesus took a break. He relaxed at a table in Matthew’s home, presumably with some of Matthew’s most notorious and skeezy friends – sinners. Louses. Leeches. Low-lifes, every one of them. The Messiah didn’t … [Read more…]
I’m not sure what my dad had against squirrels, but maybe he was applying divine wisdom when I was a youth. You did not want to be considered a squirrel in the Luthy household. When I was in high school and college, and would mention a potential male suitor I was admiring, my dad would … [Read more…]
I got unexpectedly weepy today. It was brief, but poignant. Obi Wan Kenobi had just placed infant Luke Skywalker in the arms of Beru Lars. Aunt Beru, who we later learn this strong woman would be called, smiles, turns and runs to her husband Owen with baby Luke in her arms. That’s when it hits … [Read more…]