(Thank you Debbie Barker for submitting this week’s devotional.) Every year around this time, something happens to me. While most people are soaking up the last days of summer, I’m practically giddy. Forget January 1. For me, the real New Year begins in late August. I’ve always been this way. As a child, I loved walking through the school supply aisles. Apparently, I’ve always been a nerd. (I know… everyone thinks I’m so cool. Sorry to burst your bubble.)…
This week’s blog is shared by Carol Musser. Recently, I stepped into something completely outside my comfort zone – a three-day backpacking trip through World’s End State Park with four other women. I had never backpacked before, but when the invitation came, I eagerly accepted. I expected an adventure. What I didn’t expect was how much God would teach me along the trail. Confident in my natural abilities, I assumed the journey would be difficult – but certainly manageable. The first…
Pastor Steve is on Sabbatical, we thank Pastor Isaac Martin for today’s contribution. A few weeks ago, Pastor Steve used a creative illustration in his sermon about who is shaping us. As Steve pointed out, you don’t get a purple dinosaur if you have green Play-Doh and a Christmas tree cookie cutter. You need the right mold and the right color of Play-Doh to get the right result. This spoke to me in a powerful way. This is the third…
This coming Monday, August 10, I begin my sabbatical. We announced it during a worship service this spring, but since several people have recently asked about it, I thought I’d share a little of the story behind it. Many of you know that our employee handbook provides pastors with a scheduled sabbatical after every seven years of ministry. I’ve now been serving in pastoral ministry for thirty-five years, and I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the wisdom and kindness…
This past Spring on Easter Sunday, I sent everyone home with a packet of flower seeds and an invitation to plant a little “resurrection garden.” I encouraged our church family to sow them in a small plot to remind us that God’s promises are sure, but sometimes take a long time. Jesus Himself said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed” (John 12:24). Ironically, I was…
My veggie garden is a bit of a disaster this year. Between the weather, ministry, and life in general, I got a much later start than usual. Eventually I managed to get my normal lineup in the ground—tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans—but everything felt rushed, and ever since then, the garden has shown it. This year I also tried something new. Jim Paul and I often compare notes about our gardens. Early this spring he started several flats…
Well, like I mentioned before the sermon on Sunday, we lost another tree at the Benedict estate this past weekend. ☹ One of the things that first attracted Pam and me to our home on Cedar Avenue was the trees. We only have a third of an acre in a development-styled neighborhood, but when we bought the house, the property had twelve large, mature trees. Combined with a sweeping panorama of Lancaster County farmland behind us, it felt almost like…
This week we’re headed up to my dad’s cabin in north-central Pennsylvania. Pam and I are taking a few days to unwind after Justin and Maria’s wedding. It’s been a wonderful season of celebration. The wedding was beautiful and our home has been filled wth family, laughter, and memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. But now all the kids have returned home and we’re looking forward to a little peace and quiet. One of the things I’ll…
“So you have a big week this week!” exclaimed Diane when she saw me Tuesday morning. Diane’s our excellent bookkeeper at the church and is only in on Tuesdays. “Sure do,” I replied. She was, of course, referring to Justin and Maria’s wedding this Saturday. And to say that we’re a bit preoccupied at the Benedict house right now would be an understatement. “When do Josh, Alaina, and Evan arrive?” she asked. “They fly into Newark tonight. Pam’s picking them…
One Tuesday morning earlier this spring, I went to the men’s breakfast. Every Tuesday, about a dozen Bethany men gather at the Olive Branch Restaurant in Bowmansville for coffee, breakfast, and conversation. I enjoy it, but my attendance is weak. Monday’s my day off, so Tuesday, my first day back in the office is crazy busy. Unfortunately, in recent months other responsibilities have occupied that time slot. Since forever, the breakfast started at 7:00 AM. I’m not particularly an early…