Meat for the Hungry

    FLAG robert-linder-fcFEnjBmm14-unsplash Almost fifty years ago now, my daughter and I took part in America’s 200 th Birthday with our church at the time, St. Jacob’s United Church of Christ. Lorrie was only eleven months old and not walking. So, when we marched in Salem, Ohio’s parade down State Street, you guessed it, I carried her the whole way. But at age 23, that wasn’t a problem for me.   Lorrie and I sported matching 1776 dresses and bonnets I had made, which remain hanging in my closet (I can’t bear to part with them). Before the parade, the women’s group at St. Jacob’s held a fashion show. All who were participating had the privilege of modeling their dresses. It was so fun, and I felt honored to be a part of my country’s celebration.   In 1976, it never occurred to me I would be able to celebrate America’s 250 th Birthday , yet here I am, much older, and I hope, wiser. Today, May 15, 2026, marks fifty days until this second monumental celeb...

Many moons ago, when I was a freshman in high school, smoking was about the worst thing kids would do. By the time I was a senior, it was “going all the way,” if you catch my drift. Perhaps that’s when sin began to be erased, or at least the idea of sin .   Since then, humans have worked tirelessly to accept, normalize, and even protect sinful actions. What we once knew as sin —because the Bible said so and because our consciences made us feel it—no longer has that label.   Think about it. What thing, considered wrong and sinful when you were young, is fully accepted today?   The big one I mentioned earlier hits a bit closer to home:  sex outside of marriage, aka sexual immorality, or fornication, as some Bible translations call it. [1] Not only was it wrong, but we knew it was wrong and tried to hide it. (I didn’t come to Christ until I was married with two children, so that should explain a lot. And I take full responsibility for my part in the dissolving sin —wh...

    http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20150803/LIFESTYLE/150739777 On Valentine’s Day, the doctor for whom I work, purchases red carnations for every patient who comes that day for treatment. This affection towards his patients has always impressed me. From my first day on the job, November 17, 1999, I have admired this man. I never knew a doctor who not only bought flowers for his patients, but also made personal phone calls to each new patient following their initial treatment. So last week, when I picked up the bouquet of carnations, I paused for a moment to consider the crinkly, sweet-scented, little flowers. I thought about our patients and the delight each flower would bring and then I reminisced about my high school days. If I remember correctly, our Tri-Hi-Y Club sold Valentine carnations. Any student could purchase a single carnation or more and club members would deliver them to their special someone. A white carnation meant friendship. The pink carnati...