Category Archives for Inspiring Stories
A Life Well-Lived
What is a life well lived? Often, we may read of people who made the most of their talents and opportunities. Perhaps we hear those words to describe the life of one who has just died. Leaders in business, education, medicine, the military or in politics are sometimes given as examples of those living a […]
Continue reading
Almost Gone
Have you ever felt Almost Gone? Thomas A. Dorsey certainly did when he received the telegram, “Your wife just died; come home.” He was in the second evening leading the music at a revival service. Home was from Chicago to St. Louis away. After driving all night, he got home. Not only had his wife […]
Continue reading
New Year’s Resolution
Beginning a New YearBy the middle of January, the new year is well underway. We are certainly well into our new year’s resolutions and already have a sense of how they will turn out.Samuel John Stone (1839-1900) wrote The Old Year’s Long Campaign is O’er, one of the few hymns on the topic of properly […]
Continue reading
Christmas Gifts
Gold Frankincense and MyrrhThe three wise men (magi) presented to the Christ child perhaps the most famous Christmas gifts of all time. Indeed, even young children with a minimum of Christian education can name them—gold, frankincense and myrrh.A recent post discusses the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as “Christmas Letters” [click picture to […]
Continue reading
Christmas Letters
Christmas LettersDo you like Christmas letters? You know, the ones that tell about the family and what has happened to them over the past year. The variations are familiar, but there seem to be fewer each year. Perhaps the children grow up, lessening the incentive. Or, maybe just fewer people are writing letters anymore.I, for […]
Continue reading
Mortals Awake
Mortals AwakeWhat kind of music do you like? Who is your favorite singer? Do you like bluegrass or country western? Jazz? Rock and Pop? Classical? Elvis?From solo vocal and choral music to every instrumental possibility—can you say “Mannheim Steamroller”? —there is a Christmas album. Or a Christmas concert!Christmas Music EverywhereAnd Christmas music is everywhere—office buildings, […]
Continue reading
Advent Life and Death
Advent Life and DeathThis week’s hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” ponders and celebrates the mystery of the season of Advent. “Emmanuel—God with Us”—How awesome to the young woman Mary!Her response to the news the son of God would become flesh in her womb is the “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55). “My soul magnifies the Lord, and […]
Continue reading
Not More Grateful This Thanksgiving
Not More Grateful This ThanksgivingBy Michael AngierSuccessNet.orgNote: This challenging, encouraging and inspiring story is by Michael Angier of SuccessNet.org. He sent it to me on the day before Thanksgiving, 2018. I hope it will be as helpful to you as it is to me…..we will be celebrating Thanksgiving–my favorite holiday. But I won’t be any more […]
Continue reading
Swan Song for Today
Have you thought about your own Swan Song for Today? Or, to put it another way, how do you want to be remembered? Perhaps you have written an essay or come up with a favorite phrase that sums up your life. Obituaries in a wide variety of formats seek to provide highlights and to provoke […]
Continue reading
Extraordinary Ordinary Inspiration
Who needs extraordinary ordinary inspiration, ordinary inspiration or even any inspiration?Most of us are getting on with our lives, making the most of the many opportunities 21st-century living provides. That is until unexpected events demand our attention. Tragic events may drive us to despair. Then, the seemingly smallest event from the past can become the […]
Continue reading