>[The following story will appear in the February 10, 2010, issue of Christian Renewal.]Providence in Port-au-Princeby Glenda MathesA tragedy like the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti is so immense that it’s difficult to wrap one’s mind around the sheer enormity of the loss of life, destruction, and continued suffering. Focus narrows when someone you … Continue reading >Providence in Port-au-Prince

>My "book-boy" Matthew One survived reconstructive surgery. He is resting comfortably, but I will wake him today for a couple of injections. Barring a relapse, he will leave the hospital today or tomorrow. Then it won't be long before I send him off on a cyberspace wing and a prayer to his big city audition.He … Continue reading >Matthew One: Surgery Survived

>My niece, Rachel, graduated from Dordt last year and works as a youth pastor in northwest Iowa. Members of her church often travel to Haiti on mission teams. This year they asked her along so she could check if this type of mission trip might be appropriate for the youth of the church. The Mission … Continue reading >I love the US Air Force!

>It's been some time since I've provided an update on my "book-boy" Matthew. During the last part of 2009, I was busy with many writing projects. One of those was writing an initial draft of Matthew Three as my 2009 NaNoWriMo novel. Matthew Four remains in the gestational stage. Matthew Two is an ungainly adolescent. … Continue reading >Matthew One: Reconstructive Surgery

>Happy New Year! May it please God.Psalm 1 seems a particularly appropriate Psalm to begin a new year.Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of thewicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,not sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of theLORD,and on his law he meditates day andnight.Blessing … Continue reading >Happiness in the New Year

> This morning I caught the setting nearly-full moon that tonight will be the rare blue moon.A blue moon is the second full moon that occurs within the same calendar month. The first full moon this month was on December 2. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac newsletter, a blue moon happens only every two … Continue reading >Blue Moon

>My prayer is that you experience God's richest blessings of worship and fellowship as you celebrate Christ's first advent and anticipate His second! As you remember the baby who laid on the wood of the manger, recall the man who died on the wood of the cross. He died to pay the penalty for our … Continue reading >Christmas Blessings!

>"Devout nun" is redundant.

>As I sit in front of a bright computer screen, inside a cozy home, the wind howls around this corner of the house and moans in the needles of the fir tree. In the pre-dawn darkness outside my window, the wind roars through the tops of trees like a freight train.I have never enjoyed a … Continue reading >Stormy Wind

>I used to delight in deadlines. They kept me focused and gave me direction. They made me feel as if I was breathing deeply in crisp mountain air.Then came 2009.I had many pressing deadlines. Personal and family concerns weighed heavily on me. I frequently felt unwell with health issues that required many doctor's appointments and … Continue reading >Delighting in Deadlines