>A couple of weeks ago, I made my first-ever foray to the local Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store. Row after row of shelves stocked high with huge bottles of alchohol immediately overwhelmed me. I mentally latched onto signs hanging over sections like a drowning person grabbing a life preserver. While the "GIN" section was not … Continue reading >Gin raisins
>An Image of Peace
>The LORD bless you and keep you;the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.Numbers 6:24-26This morning, while praying the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6, an image came to me of a sun-warmed tan wall with dark green shutters.The … Continue reading >An Image of Peace
>New Year’s Psalm
>It's amazing how often regular reading straight through the Bible yields scriptural gems that are extraordinarily apt for one's current circumstances. It frequently seems that the scripture read "just happens" to fit one's particular trials or times.In our regular devotional reading through the Psalms, we "just happened" to read Psalm 67 as the new year … Continue reading >New Year’s Psalm
>New Year’s Prayer
>InvocationO Lord, if only You might pour on meAbundant grace of Milton's heavenly muse!That this gray mind would empty shadows fleeAnd into golden praise itself would lose.But Lord, I'm paralyzed with Barak's fearand blinded by my Pharasaic sight.My hearing's grown as hard as Pharoah's ear,While empty echoes rise to Babel's height.You, Lord, gave Milton songs … Continue reading >New Year’s Prayer
>Celebrating Incarnation
>On our way to church yesterday morning, it seemed as if very few people were out and about. Are Christmas morning services becoming a thing of the past? Although there are always plenty of family gatherings to attend during the Christmas season, it would be a shame to discard Christmas worship like used gift wrap. … Continue reading >Celebrating Incarnation
>Libby’s Winter Coat
>For Libby's birthday, I bought her a fleece-lined corduroy coat. Even though she has very little fur on her underside, she hasn't seemed to mind the cold weather. But when the temperature plunged to zero, I broke out Libby's new coat.Longsuffering Libby was patient while I put it on her. And she didn't try to … Continue reading >Libby’s Winter Coat
>Morning Star
>The following essay appeared in the July 28 issue of The Outlook and can be viewed at Reformed Fellowship's website, but I wanted to post it as a blog entry since it is so timely for this advent season.When I rise on clear mornings, the dark pre-dawn sky is pierced by the beauty of a … Continue reading >Morning Star
>Catechism Project
>The October 29 issue of Christian Renewal contained the following article, which I wrote about a new catechism project in the URCNA. First United Reformed Church of Chino, CA, is undertaking a monumental task: creating a coordinated catechism curriculum for grades five through twelve.“It was because there was no up-to-date coordinated catechism curriculum on the … Continue reading >Catechism Project
>Christ and the Future
>A very nice surprise came in my mail recently: the published copy of Christ and the Future by Dr. Cornelis P. Venema. This is an abridged version of Dr. Venema's excellent work, The Promise of the Future, which deals with eschatology (doctrines regarding the last things). Both books have been published by the Banner of … Continue reading >Christ and the Future
>Deer Hunting
>We went deer hunting when Iowa's first shotgun season opened on Saturday. Dave and a friend who hunts with us filled their tags on Saturday. I didn't.Dave went out with me yesterday morning for moral support. I saw two, shot one, but didn't bring it down. I've been mentally beating up on myself ever since. … Continue reading >Deer Hunting
Glenda Faye Mathes 