>Yesterday I finished Larry Woiwode's first volume of memoirs, What I Think I Did: A Season of Survival in Two Acts. It's a work of art.I recently had the opportunity to interview Woiwode (a piece that will appear in the August 4, 2006, Christian Renewal), and was struck by a lot of things he said. … Continue reading >Literature as Work of Art

>The famous theologian, Augustine, had a godly mother named Monica, who prayed for his salvation for many years.For eight years, we've prayed our own version of a Monica prayer while our oldest son neglected worship.Last fall he began taking his wife and two sons to visit churches in their area, and we rejoiced when they … Continue reading >Our Monica Prayer

>Trite-sounding as it may be, trials can be blessings in disguise. It's just that some of them are more disguised than others. It can be difficult to see the blessing, or we may never see the blessing in this life. But as we thank God for the little evidences of His providence as we stumble … Continue reading >Trials as blessing

>This week’s weather has reflected the climate of my work. It’s been hot, humid, cloudy, and stormy with almost no desperately needed rain. I’ve been working long hard hours, pounding away at the keyboard, producing almost nothing toward my urgent deadlines.

>For my work I occasionally travel to the Chicago area (which has become a nightmare with the ongoing highway construction on I-80/94), and my minivan spent May 3 in a repair shop in Indiana. The computer diagnostic indicated two problems: the EGR valve and a TCC (transmission) code. The EGR valve was replaced for $367 … Continue reading >Vanity, Vanity

>There are times in my life when God's providence is so obvious it makes me feel as if he reaches down, wraps his arms around me, and whispers in my ear, "See how much I love you, Glenda!"This past weekend was one of those times. In between a couple of time-consuming projects for Mid-America Reformed … Continue reading >Providence, Pentecost and Babel Reversed

>Contemplation is crucial for creativity.

>On Saturday I walked across the stage of Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City and crossed the finish line of my thirteen-year bachelor degree marathon. After the ceremony, my family and I celebrated with a family-style meal and great fellowship in an Amana restaurant. Never before have I had a day when I thanked the … Continue reading >Graduation Day

>My daughter, Bethany, is my hero. She's in Nashville at sales training school before beginning her summer of 80-hour weeks selling books door-to-door for Southwestern. (If you're wondering why Southwestern is so named when it's headquartered in Nashville, it's because when the company began over 150 years ago, that was the southwestern part of the … Continue reading >Hero

>RedbudUpraised handCupped for blessing Fingers Splayed in praise © Glenda Mathes, 2006My many readers may wish to note that I've replaced Dulce Ridens, Dulce Loquens (the cento in the sidebar) with Vespers.