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This year of 2024 holds some special excitement for my husband and me as we wait to welcome two new great granddaughters. We know what one of the babies will be named and are excited to learn the name of the other sweet girl. Naming a child is an awesome task. Probably we could all share a name story. Maybe the story is how your parents determined what to name you. Perhaps it’s a nickname that you hold dear for yourself or for a loved one. Or maybe it’s how your name changed or evolved over the years evoking a change in you. As people of God, I...
Our family recently returned from a trip to Africa with a stop in Dubai along the way. We are blessed in many ways, but one blessing that stands out to me is that of my wife and all the research she did. She researched things like what type of bug spray could help ward off the dangerous malaria-bearing mosquitoes but not harm us at the same time, where to obtain the metro pass in Dubai (as well as how to use it), what documents are necessary to enter Kenya these days, and the best neck pillow, etc. Maybe you’re a person who takes a relaxed a...
As we travel through life, it is a good thing to remember the "T" things that are involved. Hopefully they can help us to keep on the straight and narrow way and not to be greatly discouraged as we move on from the cradle to the grave. Life is a "T"est. We see this over and over but still we can easily forget. Of course not many children want to hear the words: "We will be having a test today." But the reason for tests is to see what we know or how we'll handle situations of life. There is a...
A Blair County event for the 73rd Annual National Day of Prayer will be held at Legion Park, North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, beginning at noon. This event is sponsored by The Way of Truth Ministries. Attendees are invited to bring a chair or participate from a vehicle. The theme this year is “Lift up the word – light up the world.” The theme is taken from 2 Samuel 22:29-31. The keynote speaker for this event will be Pastor Denny Mallonee of The Faith Baptist Church of Beaver Springs, Pa. Local area pastors will...
Jesus reminded His disciples, ‘The ‘Poor’ you will always have with you.’ In Old Testament times, God gave Israel instruction to care for the widows, the orphans, the foreigners within your gates, and the poor among you. In a Matthew 25 parable, Jesus tells us there will be a judgment of the Nations regarding how they treated those who were hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and in prison. I suppose by lumping all these together, they would constitute “the poor”. A definition can be: “Having a m...
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Diversity Committee will be hosting an Interfaith Roundtable on Wednesday, April 17, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. inside the auditorium at the College’s Richland Campus. This event aims to be a discussion-filled evening with guests and featured speakers sharing their views on a variety of world religions, exploring what makes faith practices meaningful, and what those have in common in terms of worship. There will be five featured speakers, including: • V. Rev. Elijah Bremer – OCA priest, Rector of Holy As...
I’ve been planning to do a series of “Thoughts’ on the life of Joseph. I am still not quite ready, so I’ll use this week to talk about something I think we need in this “day and age’. J e s u s warned us there would be “wars and rumors of wars” as long as this world stands. It is so. Right now we are experiencing war in Palestine and in Ukraine. There are lots of other ‘hot spots’. Even in our country there are lots of hostilities. I don’t need to name them. You know them well if you follow an...
I am not one who watches a lot of television. At home, I can no longer watch my beloved Pittsburgh Pirates or pitiful Penguins. We watch the news and some old westerns or classic family shows. There is little else that is worthwhile or of interest. That does not mean I am not exposed to a lot of TV programming. Virtually anytime I visit a nursing home there are multiple televisions playing at maximum volume. I would hate to guess how many commercials that I have seen in my lifetime! Some of them are clever and humorous. Most, drive me crazy...
We know Abraham is called and was ‘The friend of God’. That is wonderful. But something in Genesis chapter 20 challenges my thinking. Abraham tells a lie. He is traveling as he did for most of his life. He comes into a region controlled by Abimelech. We don’t know if that is his name or his title as Pharaoh is a title. At any rate, it was customary for a king to take any beautiful, unattached woman into his harem. Abraham tells Sarah she is beautiful. Now she is likely in her mid-e...
John 1:43-51 As a child, I often called out “Come and See!” to my parents. Something would catch my attention, and I just had to share it. I still do that frequently when I look out the back windows of our home. The sunrise most mornings is so spectacular that I have to get my husband’s attention. Come and See. Probably all of us have invited others to celebrate the discoveries of life by uttering those words. Come and See! Come and Enjoy! In these scripture verses, it is clear that Jesus is not going to wait for people to find him. Jesus...
Each year in early spring, Christians across the globe celebrate their faith on Easter. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event which is described in the New Testament. Mass on Easter Sunday annually attracts millions of the faithful. However, many days during the week preceding Easter Sunday, often referred to as Holy Week, also bear significance to faithful Christians. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday begins Holy Week and commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Upon entering the city, Jesus was greeted by crowds...
We have looked at ‘Passion Week’ through Scripture. Hopefully you found this helpful. Now, I would like us to look at just a few of the flashes of passion Jesus had during this time frame. Jesus displayed great compassion as He (a) lamented, weeping over the future destruction of Jerusalem and saying He would have gathered them safely as a hen gathers her chicks but they refused. He displayed (b) righteous indignation while clearing the Temple, saying “My Father’s House shall be called a ‘hous...
Both new and experienced cat owners will love this book! Since I’ve owned cats my entire life, I assumed that I was an expert on the subject. However, I learned an altogether new lesson from this book. I had no idea that kittens are born with their claws extended, cats have a sense of smell ten times stronger than humans, and that they don’t start purring until they are a few weeks old. Additionally, learn why cats can lie on extremely hot surfaces without feeling uncomfortable. Just a couple of the new things I learned. Every topic on cat beh...
I have probably mentioned before in this space that I am a competitive guy. While I can handle losing, I would much prefer to be the victor in any type of game or contest. I have loved competition from an early age. My older brother and I would play versions of Wiffle Ball, street hockey (in the basement), football, and Frisbee tossing and keep track of who was the best. As a youth pastor, I loved opportunities to win while playing Foursquare, volleyball, Ultimate, Plungerball, Gaga Ball, Dutch Blitz, and more. If you do not know what all of...
The teen, kids’, and adult choirs from the Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church, shown during preparations for their Christmas cantata, will once again join their voices to celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death in the cantata King of Kings this Sunday evening, March 24 at 6 pm. Admission is free. The choirs are directed by Celeste Ritchey, Rilian Stern, and Laura Lloyd....
We are fast approaching what we call “Passion Week of Jesus Christ, The Messiah.” The story begins in eternity past. But the written record of God’s plan begins in The Garden of Eden with the prophecy of Genesis 3:15. God tells us the day will come when the ‘Seed of the woman’ will crush the Serpent’s head. We understand the ‘Seed” is Jesus, The Messiah of Israel, and The Christ of God to the world. The ‘Serpent’ is Satan, the arch-enemy of God and one who would attempt to destroy mankind and al...
Mark 1:29-39 In his three short years of ministry here on earth, Jesus healed many people. This tale in Mark is fairly easy to imagine. Simon’s mother-in-law is sick in bed with a fever. Jesus heals her and then takes her by the hand and lifts her up. It is a tender image. Even though she literally stood up, there is also a sense of being lifted up emotionally which so often comes with being healed. Imagine how she must have been feeling as she was lying in her bed sick while her son-in law brings Jesus into her home. This woman, more than l...
A new school brand of Bishop Guilfoyle Academy is being formed from the combination of Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic School and Holy Trinity Catholic School. In addition to the name change, the school announced the opening of an additional site for PreK and Kindergarten, and ultimately a full elementary school in Hollidaysburg. This campus adds to the existing two elementary school campuses in Altoona which are reaching capacity due to growth in enrollment. The changes will be effective for the 2024-25 school year, beginning July 1. “We are p...
I wish I could tell you that everything after what we have seen turns out wonderfully well. But I cannot. Yes, everything so far looks good. God did perform multiple miracles. Hezekiah recovered from his life-threatening disease. He did live fifteen more years. God sent His ‘death-angel’ through the Assyrian army camp and that night. 185,000 of the army that mocked God and God’s people died. Sennacherib (S) did return to Assyria in shame at this terrible defeat at the hand of the God he had mock...
Explaining Easter to children can be a delicate matter, especially for very young children who may not fully understand the tenets of the Christian faith. Although Easter ends with Jesus Christ emerging from his tomb, prior to this glorious miracle there are subjects of betrayal, suffering and death. These religious messages can confound when commingled with the imagery of bunnies delivering chocolates, chicks and pastel-hued eggs. How do well-meaning parents relay the message of Easter without scaring or confusing children? A child’s age b...
In general, I consider myself to be a positive person. I recently had an older gentleman from church tell me how he’s always happy to see me because I have a smile on my face all the time. But I have caught myself at times looking in my rearview mirror and seeing that my default expression is not really a smile but a frown. Even when I’m not thinking negatively or am sad about anything, my lips are curled downward. And although I would like to think I’m a “glass half full” kind of thinker the reality is sometimes the glass seems half empty. On...
Easter Sunday is a day when Christians across the globe celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Data from the Pew Research Center indicates there are approximately 2.4 billion Christians across the globe, which accounts for nearly one-third of the global population. Though certain Christians groups do not celebrate Easter, many consider it the holiest day of the year. Given that significance, it’s no surprise Easter is steeped in symbolism. The following are some of the many symbols of Easter and what they represent to faithful C...
Christians and even many non-Christians likely know that Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Less widely known may be the origins of the name of this significant holiday. Historians are not certain about the precise origins of the name “Easter.” Some believe the name can be traced to the English monk Bede, often referred to as “St. Bede the Venerable” or “The Venerable Bede.” According to History.com, in his most famous work, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede asserts that the English wor...
The 40 days and nights of Lent are a time for reflection and anticipation of Easter’s arrival. Fasting, which for many Christians includes skipping meat and animal products each Friday, also is part of the preparation. Individuals who are unaccustomed to going meat-free may need to expand their culinary repertoire to ensure Friday meals continue to be filling and tasty. This recipe for “Herby Rice and Black Bean Salsa Burrito Bowl” from Niki Webster’s “Rainbow Bowls” (Sourcebooks) is full of protein-rich beans, flavorful herbed rice and sa...
The Assyrian King is Sennacherib (S). He marches with an immense army to confront Hezekiah, who has not paid the tribute as his father had. It is here the weak faith of Hezekiah falters. He pays the tribute (S) demands. He takes some of his own wealth and unfortunately raids the precious metal in the Temple of the Lord to make up the balance. Hezekiah does not know if this will appease (S) so he does what he can humanly do to stave off disaster. He stops a major water supply to hinder (S) and...
Mark 1:9-15 My favorite gospel is Mark because Mark keeps things simple. With Mark, there are not a lot of adjectives and adverbs. He doesn’t add a lot of details. There is almost an urgency to his stories. For Mark, it is all about proclaiming the good news of Jesus, the Son of God. As Mark describes the baptism of Jesus in this scripture, we clearly hear the voice from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus, and all seems well as Jesus is launched into his minis...
A study titled “Social Determinants of Health in the Age of COVID: Effects of Social Isolation Among Adults 62+ in Rural Pennsylvania” analyzed the extent of social isolation among rural Pennsylvanians aged 62 or older. The study identified evidence-based programs and services that minimize social isolation, evaluated the determinants of social isolation among residents aged 62 or older, and evaluated the programs and services that currently exist in rural Pennsylvania to determine replicability throughout Pennsylvania and make policy rec...
I mentioned last time that Hezekiah led his people in celebration of The Passover even though it was a month late. What I did not say was he invited the people of Israel to join them in this worship experience at the Temple. The Temple was the assigned worship place for both nations of Israel and Judah. This was extremely generous on his part. Israel had frequently allied themselves with Judah’s enemies and even attacked Judah, killed and carried away captives themselves. He sent messengers w...
Once again, I have an opportunity to be part of a community theater production. It’s been a good time getting to know new people and getting reacquainted with old friends. Most of them do not have a church connection. The biggest challenge is memorization since I have more lines this time around. Hopefully I will get them down when the lights come on. This play is all about family. Although it is a comedy, there are various themes that makes me think about the connection with family and the Christian walk. There is an engaged couple dealing w...
Two area Episcopal churches, Holy Trinity-Hollidaysburg and St. Luke’s-Altoona, will co-host a free 10 session program called Transforming Questions (TQ) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, starting February 21, 2024 at the Hollidaysburg Masonic Hall, 1008 Edgar Street. Each TQ session will begin with a meal followed by a short presentation on God and faith and end with an hour of small group discussion around related questions. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend the first session, regardless of where they may be in their faith journey, a...
Sometimes I get pretty busy. Lots of my reading/studying time is spent preparing to teach, preach, or write. This week I had a couple of free hours and decided to do some study for my personal benefit. I chose to study the life of King Hezekiah of Judah. I found it most enjoyable and beneficial. In fact, I think it will be worthwhile for us to look at this study together. Primary Scriptures regarding Hezekiah’s life are: II Kings chapters 16-21, II Chronicles 28-33 and Isaiah 36-39. There are o...
Psalm 100 There was a period of time through the “season of Covid” when the church I attend was on-line only. Then we began to meet in our parking lot with the message broadcast through the radio. What an amazing time when we finally reentered the sanctuary! We did wear masks for awhile, and we sat in every other pew. Through much of this time we did not sing as some reports said that droplets could spread more easily that way. I am such a music lover, so I was overjoyed when once again our service returned to what we had always done. The onl...
In order to perform well in school, children need to be fed, and a local group is guaranteeing that with a unique fundraiser. To continue its goal of lowering student hunger, the Claysburg Backpack Program hosted its first Soup-er Bowl. Through the date of Super Bowl LVIII, the program had four drop-off locations- Dollar General stores in Claysburg, Claysburg Public Library, and the former Cat’s Meow at 595 Bedford St. “I’ve been checking each site as often as I can, and I’ve noticed a lot of donations,” said Terri Lingenfelter, one of the Ba...
At Valentine’s Day, we use the word “love” a lot. Much of the time we understand what we mean and hopefully others do as well. Sometimes, the meaning is not as clear as we wish it would be. We can say “I love my wife.” or, “I love a good book.” And the meaning for the word ‘love’ is not the same. In the Greek language, there are at least four words used for this word. One word is ‘phileo’. It means ‘brotherly love’ as in the name of the city Philadelphia, the ‘city of brotherly love. I’m not...
Yesterday I visited an older gentleman who admitted he has trouble throwing things away. He is a collector who specializes in train and railroad items. He has a whole building to store his collection. At one point he owned three actual railroad cars. I brought him a few little things from a thrift store to add to his treasure trove. He did not turn them down. He knows the Lord and states that it’s a good thing we “can’t take it with us” because he would have to have a very big U-Haul. As a young guy I collected baseball cards. Some of them ar...
Valentine's Day presents an opportunity to express feelings of love. Greeting cards and heart-shaped chocolate boxes are traditional gifts, as are red roses. Most people know how and why Valentine's Day is celebrated, but few may know the person behind the holiday's name. The Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred individuals with the name Valentine, who each may hold ties to the Valentine's Day celebration. The name Valentine comes from the Latin "Valentinus," which means "worthy, strong or powerful." The name was a common...
I am feeling led to look at ‘The Tithe’ in this week’s Thought’. Basically The Tithe is giving to God, one tenth of grain, vegetables, fruit, and domesticated animals produced that year. There are other associated words, i.e. offerings, gifts, sacrifices, but I just plan to look at ‘tithe’. The original tithe seems to be voluntary. Abraham, celebrates his victory in a war. He dedicates one tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, known as the priest of God, and King of Salem. The second I note...
Paul’s letters to the churches which make up a significant portion of the New Testament have always been engaging to me. Paul had impressive credentials. He was born of the tribe of Benjamin of the House of Israel. He was a Pharisee. His zeal led him to persecute Christians until he had his conversion from Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). He was transformed from a persecutor to a missionary. Once he had been transformed those credentials meant nothing to Paul compared to knowing Christ. And we all know there is quite a d...
Weddings are steeped in tradition. Some of those traditions may be exclusive to particular families, but many others are embraced by families of various backgrounds. Couples needn’t feel beholden to popular wedding traditions, but some may feel that these customs make their weddings more fun and serve as a great way to connect their ceremonies with those of their parents, grandparents and possibly even their ancestors. Old, new, borrowed, blue The rhyme “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is likely familiar to pe...
This “Thought” will hopefully cause us to think about The Church/Christians. For Christians are The Church, one at a time. Followers of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. It was intended to be derogatory. It means, “Little Christs” or “Imitators of Christ.” That is what Christians should want to be: imitators of Christ. We were given a formula for this to happen by Jesus Christ. He said, “This is how men will know you are my disciples (followers), if you love one another.” (St...
I have told many people that the older I get the less I enjoy the cold weather and the wintertime. Like most children, I used to enjoy building snowmen, having snowball fights and sled riding. As a young teenager I spent many weekend afternoons playing hockey on the frozen pond. In my 20s I learned to ski and loved the thrill of flying down the slopes. The cold temperatures did not use to bother me much. They do now. It is no wonder that my retired brother and so many like him end up going south for at least part of the winter. Maybe the day...
Easter Sunday is a significant day on the Christian calendar. Easter Sunday will be celebrated on March 31, 2024, and many of those celebrations will feature some notable traditions. Some traditions are undoubtedly familiar to practicing Christians, while others might come as a surprise. As Easter approaches, faithful Christians and others intrigued by the holiday can consider these notable traditions from around the globe. Fireworks in Florence The folk tradition of Scoppio del Carro ("Explosion of the Cart") takes place in Florence, Italy....
I am feeling led to look at ‘The Tithe’ in this week’s Thought’. Basically The Tithe is giving to God, one tenth of grain, vegetables, fruit, and domesticated animals produced that year. There are other associated words, i.e. offerings, gifts, sacrifices, but I just plan to look at ‘tithe’. The original tithe seems to be voluntary. Abraham, celebrates his victory in a war. He dedicates one tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, known as the priest of God, and King of Salem. The second I note...
There was an exercise I did with my first graders each year as we were getting to know each other. I would take some cans and write on the front of them Can’t. Those little ones were quick to tell me things they couldn’t do: “I can’t read. I can’t wait until lunch. I can’t do this math.” We would do some talking and then take those cans, remove the ‘t and bury it, showing the kiddos that they can. Have you ever had one of those days, one of those weeks, when you say to yourself, “I just can’t”? Maybe you have been trying to trust God while yo...
James writes: “… What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while than vanishes…” I am scared to argue with Scripture but sometimes I feel like a counter point is valid. Memory takes me back decades. I was a high school freshman. Some of us went to a wrestling match. My friend and classmate was wrestling at 112#. He was good and won his match easily. His brother, an upper classman, wrestling at 165#, was a mass of muscle and intimidated me for sure. He got his opponent into a...
I am writing this column on my birthday. There are other things that I would rather be doing on my “big day”, but the reality of a busy schedule means that this is the day to complete the task. You must have been counting on it because you are reading these words. Unless you have an early January date of birth also, you will experience a birthday in 2024. As we age, they sure seem to come and go quickly. If family members were to put the corresponding number of candles on the cake per year, they would be wise to have a fire extinguisher on hand...
Winter has just barely begun. Spring is far away. Many of us do not like winter’s cold challenges. What can we do? There is one thing we must surely do: “Wait!” Of course we may not like waiting very much either. There are three ladies from Scripture we can look at. First there is Sarai, Abram’s wife. She wanted a child and for a long time was not able to have a child. She knew God had promised one but was impatient. So she went ahead with her own plan. She gave her maid servant to her husband...
I loved playing the game of Hide and Seek with my cousins when I was young. I remember especially loving to play in our grandmom’s attic where there were wonderful nooks and crannies. I was the cousin who showed righteous indignation when anyone tried to peek or didn’t count high enough when we were finding our hiding places. I was a stickler for following the rules. When my boys were young and my work days were spent with first graders, I loved reading the book Runaway Bunny. It told of the steadfast love the mother bunny had for her you...
Sometimes we think we are starting over with a “clean slate” at the beginning of a New Year. It may seem like we have found the “delete” button on our computer and are ready to push it so we can start fresh. That can be a great feeling but it just is not so. The bills we amassed in the past year are still to be paid. Health issues must still be dealt with. Any apologies we need to make we must still make. In other words, “We cannot start over.” But that does not mean we have no opportuniti...
Shown at the Salvation Army bell ringing session held on Dec. 23 at Traditions were Boosters Jeff and Connie (The Elf) Brumbaugh and Suzanne McNally. Suzanne is also the Martinsburg Salvation Army Director. Also participating in the bell ringing were Boosters Jason and Rebekah Dick, Bob Bechtel, Homer Shriner, Ed Kreider, Dean Grubb, and Richard Bice....
