Monthly Archives: December 2008

Harley and Me

Posted on by

My three kids and all the dogs

Disclaimer: Any resemblance to the recently released hit movie “Marley and Me” is entirely intentional.

A couple of years ago, I read the book “Marley and Me” by John Grogan. I enjoyed it so much I was one of the first people last week lined up to see the movie. I can identify with this true story about a journalist and his destructive, yet loving and faithful, yellow lab. My family also has a yellow lab. His name is Boone, but I call him “destructo-dog” or sometimes “monster-dog.” This animal, which doesn’t have a mean bone in his freakishly large body, loves life and everybody. He meets every situation – and every backyard visitor – with the same over-the-top exuberance. Unfortunately, Boone uses this same gusto when tackling little projects like eating the BBQ grill or “trimming” the trees. Boone is my husband’s dog and I don’t let him forget it.

Read more

John Wayne in My Living Room

Posted on by

I can see John Wayne in my living room. Sitting at my kitchen counter, working on my lap top, I’ve got an unobstructed view through to the living room. There stands The Duke with a rifle in his hand, a pistol on his hip, and a Santa hat on his head.

Don’t worry. I know Mr. Wayne is no longer with us – and Elvis is not in the dining room. This John Wayne is a life-size cardboard cut-out with an easel on the back to keep him standing. Read more

Why Jesus Came

Posted on by

A Christmas Devotional

First published in December 2008

Good to be reminded again this year!

As soon as I finished storing the leftover Thanksgiving turkey in Tupperware, I began putting up the tree and cluttering every surface of our house with nativity scenes, reindeer, poinsettias, and twinkly lights. Every year our family – like many of you – goes to great lengths to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But do we ever slow down to seriously contemplate why He came?

About this time last year, God drew my attention to several statements Jesus made that included the phrase “I came” or “I have come.” Of course, I had read them many times before, but had never considered them in the context of Christmas. As I searched the Gospels I found more than a dozen of these “I came…” statements. As I studied them Christmas took on a deeper and richer meaning for me. This year, I would like to share a few of them with you. If you have time, look up the Scripture references and ask God to teach you the deeper meaning of Christmas.

Read more