It hardly ever happens that I walk out of a movie theater after viewing a film and want to turn right back around and see the same film once again. Yesterday evening was one of those rare occurrences. I experienced such a strong desire to make a 180 degree turn back into the movie theater. […]
It’s now two days since Temma’s “big birthday bash”. It was a wonder! Close to sixty-five friends, neighbors, and family came out to celebrate Temma’s forty years of life, and many others who wanted to be there but could not make it. I have a little more time to reflect now than I did in […]
This morning I heard a sermon on Patience, one in a series on the Fruits Of the Spirit. It was a good sermon with good worship. Recently, when I’ve been asked by friends, “How can I pray for you?” I’ve responded with one word, patience. When a trusted, longtime friend and I made our yearly […]
Sermon for April 28, 2024 John 14:15-21: The Spirit of Truth [I am borrowing greatly in this sermon, from an interview of James Alison with Gareth Higgins, made at a storytelling conference I attended] I am so privileged and honored to be able to be with you as pastor and preacher this morning continuing Pastor […]
Tim and I had a date night last Friday. I had read about the new film about the author, Flannery O’Connor and so I was excited to find out that it was showing at a theater nearby. Both Tim and I are intrigued by O’Connor’s writing, her short stories like, A Good Man Is Hard […]
My mom is beautiful. She just turned ninety-three-years old. I don’t know if she ever really yearned to be a mother—especially of five children. I’ve not asked her that question. Or was it the only alternative to a woman of her generation, married young with an eight-grade education? Her own mother died when she was […]
Dad took us to see the Shrine Circus when it came to town. My father, playful and listening? I took it whenever it came, but I didn’t trust it much. I never knew how long it might last. I had never been to the circus before. As I said, Dad taking us somewhere fun and […]
I wonder if I’ll ever become disciplined enough to write a blog post once a week or even once every other week? I wonder if I will ever be able to complete my book project? I take a long time and go very slowly (that’s my name, S. Lowly!). The same is true of my […]
I wish that you could have known this extraordinary man, John Fridlund. John and his wife C’Dale have been members of Bethany Church, where I’m currently the pastor, for 59 years. John died the evening of October 17. I had the amazing honor of being at his bedside when he breathed his last breath. I […]
Writing From the Margins 