We tend to imagine that the things which shape a life must be grand — dramatic moments, major decisions, or unmistakable turning points. Yet Scripture reminds us that God often works through what seems small, unnoticed, or ordinary. Jesus speaks of mustard seeds and widow’s mites (Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 12:41–44). Paul reminds us that “your […]
Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman in John 4 are some of the clearest teachings in Scripture on what God desires from His people when they come together to worship: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such […]
Aesop’s fable “The Wolf and the Lamb” gives us a striking image for Christian reflection. In the tale a lamb drinks quietly at a stream until a wolf appears, bent on finding any pretext to attack. The wolf levels absurd and impossible accusations—claiming the lamb muddied the water, insulted him long ago, and committed other […]
Tomorrow is President’s Day. If you are like me, you probably don’t give it much of a second thought until you realize the mail didn’t run or if you needed to go to the bank and forgot that they were closed. Nevertheless, a study of the American presidents can be fascinating, and perhaps one of […]
There was once a young man who decided to take a nighttime walk through his village after a fresh snowfall. Though the air was cold, he found the stillness of the evening and the quiet that snowfall brings to be peaceful. The ground was perfectly blanketed and undisturbed, and the lights from the houses and […]
You may or may not have noticed that the Podcast has finally had a couple of new episodes. If you have not had the chance to listen to them, I encourage you to do so. You can find a link to them on the website under Bill’s Bytes. If you have the Spotify or Apple […]
We live in a time marked by sharp divisions and frequent hostility. Public discourse too often resembles a contest to be heard rather than a conversation to be had, and civility has become a casualty of that struggle. The result is a widening rift—between nations, congregations, families, and friends—that corrodes trust and makes constructive action […]
Last Monday, as I drove across the bridge from Williamstown into Marietta, the sunrise grabbed my attention. As usual, it was stunning to see, with its different shades of gray, pink, red, and maybe a little bit of orange and pale blue. The planet Venus and the moon still shone, though the sun was starting […]
A new year always invites reflection. It is a moment we may look back at what has been and consider what may be—for some it is a threshold that we cross with renewed hope. Scripture often speaks of new beginnings as spiritual invitations. As we step into a new year, let us do more than […]
When I was a senior in high-school (1994-1995), my older brother gave me a certain gift for Christmas. It was a small square plaque of wood with a smaller mirror attached to it. While square in shape, it is set to be in diamond shape. The mirror itself is overlaid with artwork from an American […]