Category Archives: In A Nutshell

Thanksgiving: A Day to Savor Our Blessings Freshly sliced turkey, thick rich gravy, savory seasoned stuffing, delicious mashed potatoes, sweet creamy coleslaw, tasty green bean casserole, and how about a generous slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream to cap off your Thanksgiving feast! Do I have your attention yet? It’s that day —Continue reading “In A Nutshell | November 27, 2025”

A Reminder Once Again to Focus on the World to Come Like most of you, I did my civic duty and cast my ballot on Election Day last week at Church of the Nazarene on Oak Hill Road in Wooster. While there, I was struck by the majestic beauty of the building, and to be quiteContinue reading “In A Nutshell | November 13, 2025”

Who’s Your Superhero? I have a good friend, about my age, who has a massive collection of plastic superheroes. Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, Captain America, and a variety of others. His office is filled with action figures in all shapes and sizes. Whenever I visit him at work, I marvel at the scope of hisContinue reading “In A Nutshell | October 30, 2025”

Learning from Nature and Scripture How to Live Together Nature seems to have a communication system all its own. Plant species find a way to co-exist and even cooperate with one another. This came to my attention earlier this week when I was driving home from the church on Mechanicsburg Road. I looked up and noticedContinue reading “In A Nutshell | October 9, 2025”

Revel and Give Thanks for the Beauty of God’s Creation The wonders of nature and the hand of the God who created it, never cease to amaze me. After an interminably long dry spell, our Father has brought forth nourishing rain toour region, turning much of our parched landscape green again. Soon, the leaves onContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 25, 2025”

The Honor and Integrity of the Mighty Tree In the middle of a new housing development at the corner of Mechanicsburg and SilverRoads, stands one very large and sprawling tree. The planners obviously had theforesight to preserve this magnificent tree, not only for its beauty, but also for thebenefits it provides. As you may rememberContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 11, 2025”

God’s Call to Willing Service, Not Forced Labor Meeting with one’s boss can be a nerve-wracking, angst-ridden experience, especiallywhen it comes time for our annual review. Fortunately, I serve a very kind, caring, andcompassionate District Superintendent, who believes in building up rather than tearingdown. She and I had a very cordial conversation earlier this week,Continue reading “In A Nutshell | August 30, 2025”

Honoring God’s Call to Patience, Understanding, and Temperance Well, the Browns won their first preseason game behind the heroics of a flashyyoung quarterback by the name of Shedeur Sanders, and the hype has quickly reacheda fever pitch. Some are calling for his number to be retired; others are saying that heshould be inducted into theContinue reading “In A Nutshell | August 14, 2025”

We All Scream for Ice Cream I’m guessing that most of you had an ice cream truck that would make its wayaround your neighborhood each summer. Where I grew up in suburban Pittsburgh, wewould hear the melodic tune off in the distance and know that the ice cream treats wereon the way. All of usContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 31, 2025”

Let Faith and Freedom Ring This Holiday Weekend Throughout human history, people have passionately pursued freedom, and with goodreason. In the words of the one-hit wonder rock group from the 1990s, The BoDeans,“everybody wants to be free.” As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence tomorrow, it is important toconsider the often-overlooked freedom to practiceContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 3, 2025”