A Dad Can Change a Legacy

I rediscovered this snapshot of my parents last week. I don’t know if I love it more because of my mom’s big smile or because my dad made her feel like smiling like that. Music was playing, which meant my dad had to snatch up a dance partner. Be prepared to twirl across the farmhouse floor, even if you can’t dance! I like this picture, too: my dad playing guitar... Read More

My Own Personal Lorica: Verses for Meditation

Around St. Patrick’s Day, I discovered Loricas — prayers chanted for protection. Literally, “lorica” means “armor” or “breastplate.” St. Patrick had enemies — druid priests — who probably placed curses on him and wanted to kill or enslave him. Hence, the need for protection! (If you missed it, here was my St. Patrick’s... Read More

Poem: To The God Who Can Feel

I am so grateful for the spiritual “watchdogs” in our church. When I returned, after years of being out of church, they helped reground me in biblical beliefs, dispelling quite a bit of painful misunderstanding. But sometimes — in a dash back to my science writing days — I wish I could adjust their “sensitivity and specificity” a little! It is... Read More

Hebrew Word Study: What Does it Mean to Wait for the LORD?

What does it mean to “wait for the LORD?” Does it mean sitting back and doing nothing? No one I know personally is waiting for insignificant things from God — I am not waiting for insignificant things from God! They are huge things with eternal significance: …for someone to leave a physically abusive relationship …for an infant to make it through one... Read More

Hebrew Word Study from Noah

Yesterday I posted about why God flooded the earth, because it’s a question that’s “out there” right now. Today I’m posting about the Hebrew words in the Noah story… for the sole reason that I am an irremediable Word Nerd, and if I suppress that too long, it erupts to the surface in a volcanic display, like you are about to see. In a few moments... Read More

Noah: Why Did God Flood the Earth?

The “Noah” movie, featuring Russell Crowe, premiered today! I’m seeing the whole range of responses from Christians, mostly: – excitement that people might dust off their Bibles, or – frustration that it may not be a close reflection of the Genesis account. I tend toward the first camp. At least, I plan to see it. Wednesday, I posted about whether... Read More

Perfecter of Our Faith

It rained while I wrote yesterday’s Noah post – gently, not ferociously. God promised He would never cover the whole Earth with water again. He promises that floods will come – in this world I have trouble, no doubt – but my faith will never be completely overwhelmed. I’ve entered His shelter through Jesus the Door, and I will be carried safely to... Read More

Was Noah Good?

Russell Crowe’s “Noah” premieres this Friday, March 28. I’m looking foward to seeing it. But when the first trailers came out last year, I was skeptical. In the interviews, Noah was described “not benevolent” and not good. Crowe’s “Noah” tells his son, at one point in the trailer, that he wasn’t chosen for being good: “I... Read More

When Small Beginnings Die

It’s strange weather for starting seeds, with the garden buried six feet under in snow… but spring is only seven weeks away! Every year when we start seedlings, my husband says, “I’ll just plant a few different kinds of tomatoes…” Every year, the “few” turn into a vast, unnavigable jungle, tightly packed with tomatoes to pick. I try... Read More

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Add an Engine

Almost at the end of our long drive home, the kids shrieked over two small airplanes descending across the highway… not that I would ever take pictures while driving… On a whim, we followed them to their hangar and then whipped around to Stearman Field, hoping to catch a couple planes making their last few flights before the weather turned bad. Among the airplane... Read More