Musings

By Sean Dietrich She was trash. At least that’s how she was treated. She was found wandering a rural Mississippi highway. Beneath the stars. It was a wonder the girl hadn’t been hit. This was a busy highway. The kind with transfer trucks. The dog was walking in the center of the...

By Sean Dietrich I was there by accident. It was night when I pulled onto the old beach road without even thinking. I guess my brain was on autopilot. This used to be the way I took home every night. Back when my family lived up the street in a little...

By Sean Dietrich Eighteen years. That sounds like a long time, but it’s not. Not when you think about it. Eighteen years is nothing. It’s hard to believe that eighteen years ago we were just two ordinary people with two very different last names. It’s almost hard to conceive of a...

by Reverend Pete Hyde LaRue, Ar Beaver LakeIt was the summer of 1968.  The base model 1963 Chrysler Newport (the only options...

By Kirk McCarley Thumbing through a magazine, one came across the article, “What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?” Some of the publication’s regular readers weighed in: • We don’t have to agree on anything to be kind to one another. • Don’t act like the destination is more important than the journey. If...

By Sean Dietrich The Third Day of Christmas. My three French hens must have gotten lost in the mail. The weather was a stolid 34 degrees. The water in the dog bowls was stone. The sun was out. Waffle House was warm and inviting. The parking lot was mostly empty except...

By Pastor David Holland At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I...

By Myrna Conrad Many people mistake humility for weakness, passivity or insecurity. However, a humble person is anything but weak, passive or insecure. It takes a person with tremendous inner strength to realize and admit his or her limitations and to live free from the ever-present pull of pride and...

By Rev. J. Pete Hyde Heavy rain in the distance blocked the satellite television signal. The house was almost refreshingly quiet. I stepped out on the front porch. The night was eerily still. The heavy rain of the past few days dampened the traffic. An orange street light cast an...

By Myrna Conrad Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. During this time, we receive cards and hear songs about “peace on earth good will toward man.” In fact, when the angels heralded the birth of Jesus they said, “And this will be a sign for you: You will find...