March 2020 may have been the longest month in history. COVID-19 spread exponentially, but time slowed to a coronavirus-induced crawl. The month came in like a lamb, bleating feeble warnings. It ended like a lion, roaring with medical and financial crisis. April seems likely to last every bit as long. The virus appears unabated, while … Continue reading Be still and know
The 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded last Thursday to Kazuo Ishiguro, which is good news. Ishiguro writes literary novels that defy genre boundaries and garner popular appeal. Here's the New York Times online story about the award. And here's a Times 2015 interview with Ishiguro that explores his reading opinions and related reflections. … Continue reading Pulitzer Prize Good News
After a recent speaking engagement, I was asked for some book recommendations. Having expended a great deal of mental energy into the talks I'd just given, I felt a little brain dead and came up with only a few favorites. I did recall and mention, however, this earlier post that includes a variety of nonfiction … Continue reading Reading Recommendations
It’s November, the between month. Between leaves tumbling in sun-warmed colors and snowflakes feathering from a slate sky. Between roaring combines churning dust clouds and dazzling white blanketing latent fields. November. Cold, gray. I was born in a dreary November more than 80 years ago. In the same old farmhouse that cradles my weary bones … Continue reading November
During the first week of May, 300,000 tulips in beds lining streets and filling parks of Pella, IA, usually bloom. Whatever the condition of blossoms, local people celebrate their Dutch heritage with an extravaganza of colorful parades, folk dancing, interesting exhibits, and delicious food. Copious amounts of food. Visitors can feed their inner child … Continue reading Pella’s heritage: Broken teacups and blooming tulips
Since last March, I've been writing biographical sketches about Puritans. These will appear in Puritan Heroes, which I'm writing with Dr. Joel Beeke for Reformation Heritage Books. Puritan Heroes will be formatted similarly to RHB's popular Reformation Heroes. Marketed for all ages, it will be written to appeal to twelve-year-old readers. This is a big project that I was reluctant … Continue reading Puritan project
Who doesn't love a birthday party? Celebration and gifts. Cake and ice cream. No one loved a birthday party better than my sister, Joan. I vividly remember the day my parents arrived home from the hospital with Joan. Mom got out of the car, and I ran forward, happy to finally see the mother my … Continue reading Birthdays and Rebirth
On November 30, 2015, the Lord took home to glory Dr. Richard J. Venema at the age of 93. He served many churches in multiple federations and was well-known within the Reformed community as a forthright defender of God’s truth. Writing a memorial piece always carries the danger of either idolizing or idealizing a … Continue reading Remembering Dr. Richard J. Venema
Have you ever heard the whip-poor-will cry down the twilight? Years since I've heard the haunting chant, it still echoes in my mind. A chance glance recently reverberated melody and memories. As a subscriber to Iowa Outdoors magazine, I receive its lovely DNR calendar each year. Each month features a gorgeous picture showcasing Iowa's natural beauty. The dates are sprinkled … Continue reading Looking for whip-poor-wills
I recently received news about an amazing Cross Focused blog tour of Discovering Delight: 31 Meditations on Loving God's Law. I'm thankful to David Woollin and the other folks at Reformation Heritage Books for their efforts in promoting my work. And I especially thank God for these wonderful reviews!
Glenda Faye Mathes 