Drawing Close

, by

  My husband Dale and I have experienced medical challenges—cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, and illnesses. We’ve had challenges in our adult children’s lives—financial stresses, unemployment, school struggles, health issues, and major moves across the country and the world. We’ve had life challenges—job changes, aging parents, home and car repairs, and so much more. Yet all these circumstances have actually brought us closer together because we’ve chosen to lean on each other, to draw strength from each other. You can, too. Sometimes your marriage will be easy. But other times the potholes or detours of life, the circumstances and…

Read More

Sunday Reflection: Lost in Translation

, by

. . . let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18 NIV) We have a goal to visit the countries that represent the 15 or so languages our book Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti has been translated into.  Because of our desire to cross cultures, we have often been accompanied by translators. They take what we are saying and reword our thoughts and intentions so that a clear message is accomplished. To do this, often they do not translate word for word, but adapt to carry the main…

Read More

A Chat with Author Eleanor Gustafson

, by

Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of interviewing novelist Eleanor Gustafson. She’s built houses, made her own maple syrup, and she plays with “word plants.” I think you’ll enjoy what Ellie has to share! Ellie, tell us about your book. An Unpresentable Glory is a many-dimensioned love story. A stranger, more dead than alive, shows up in Linda’s garden. She cares for him and only later learns who he really is. Some fascinating story elements are woven together in this complex tapestry that blazons the glory of God.

Read More

Find Your Proper Place

, by

Where is home? Is it where your family lives? Where your work’s located? How do you find the comfort of home? Do you sometimes feel out of place? Living in two cultures brings a sense of not belonging anywhere. I not only live in a foreign country but also in a Quechua village in Bolivia where three cultures and three languages collide—making the mix even more interesting. Feeling out of place is an understatement. Yet, somehow I am at home. When I arrive in the States for furlough, I feel at home. I can speak English, my mother tongue. Yay!…

Read More

Spiritual Needs

, by

Spiritual Needs  By Susan G Mathis It’s always good to revisit your spiritual needs—individually and as a couple—and discuss how each of you can help meet those needs. As we grow and mature, our needs often change, so it’s good to adjust to them accordingly. First, if you haven’t already, find a church and commit to attend regularly. Next, be sure to pray together. For some, this isn’t easy, but start by saying a prayer before meals. Then you can learn to pray at other times and for other things—for safety on a trip, for God’s will, and for His…

Read More

Sunday Reflection: The Kiss

, by

One the wall of our bedroom is a beautiful portrait taken by a well known photographer.  The photo is black and white then recolorized to highlight certain aspects of the portrait. The picture is of Bill and me. In the photo you can’t see our faces because I am wearing a hat, but you can tell, it was a kiss of love. How? In the photo, I am standing on my tippie toes reaching up to give Bill a kiss. That peck was apparently was so amazing that it caused Bill to rock back on his heels. (I think this…

Read More

Did You Hear about This?

, by

  I didn’t see it with my own eyes but I heard about it. The Israelites faced a desperate circumstance—the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. No way out! Then the Lord sent a strong east wind causing the water to pile up like walls making a path, and turning mud into dry ground for that massive throng to cross. When the army pursued, the waters returned to normal flow and swallowed the Egyptians (Exodus 14). I didn’t see it with my own eyes but I heard about it. After the Israelites had wandered in the…

Read More

Sunday Reflection: Humility: The Missing Virtue

, by

In our society, it is easy to conclude that humility is a missing virtue. People elbow others to scramble up the ladder of sucess. Others proclaim themselves to be the god or godess of their own lives– while others would never say it out loud– but their actions show a disreguard for their Creator. But humility isn’t just missing in our times, we can look back to the Old Testement and see there were seasons that even the nation of Israel failed to honor God as their Lord and Leader. Whenever they sought to humbly follow God’s lead, things went…

Read More

A Chat with Author Martha Rogers

, by

Davalynn Spencer, here, welcoming you to someplace cool and relaxing and out of summer’s heat while we visit with veteran author, Martha Rogers. Martha, it’s so good to talk to you today. Please tell us a about your featured book, Biscuits and Bones. I’m intrigued by the title. This book is about a young woman who loves animals and came up with the idea for a pet bakery and store specializing in organic, wholesome, homemade treats for pets. She is also the owner of a Black Lab named Max. The hero is an uptight, proper lawyer who is suddenly in…

Read More

We Are Blessed

, by

In 1776 our country was founded by men who believed in God. Nearly two centuries later, “In God We Trust” was written on our currency, and The Pledge of Allegiance added the phrase “one nation under God.” Though these statements represent a variety of faiths, belief in God is the common denominator. As we all know, our nation is becoming more and more secular and many people are turning away from God. But there will always be a remnant who remain strong in their faith and in their commitment to God. We will always have a voice, although it may…

Read More