Category Archives: In A Nutshell

Charting a Plan for Our Future As most of you know by now, I will begin serving a second church in July. While I did not pursue this position, I am happy to serve God as called, but I want you to know that my commitment to Oak Chapel will never change. What may haveContinue reading “In A Nutshell | May 19, 2023”

Witnessing the Beauty of God’s Creation from up on the Hill As I gaze out of my office window, I am mesmerized by the brilliant yellow-green pasture just beyond the Mykrantz’s Farm. I have never witnessed such a spectacular sight. I thought I heard someone say that it was “granola,” but what they actually said,Continue reading “In A Nutshell | May 12, 2023”

A Blast from the Past: Vacation Bible School Returns this Summer Vacation Bible School is a cherished part of American culture, but participation has fallen off dramatically during the past 25 years. What was once a summer rite of passage is now a shell of its old self. At Oak Chapel, we have not hadContinue reading “In A Nutshell | May 5, 2023”

Church Closings are Cause for Alarm The announcement that another Ohio church was closing barely made news last week. Church closings have become all too commonplace in recent years, leaving us to wonder what our world might be like if a day comes when there are no churches at all. It may seem unthinkable thatContinue reading “In A Nutshell | April 28, 2023”

Applying the Wisdom and Discipline of Proverbs to Everyday Life The Book of Proverbs is renowned for its wisdom and discipline. One of my favorite passages and one of the most well-known is Proverbs 3:1-6, which states, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,  for they will prolong yourContinue reading “In A Nutshell | April 21, 2023”

Sorting Out the Change that Lies Ahead I have always been somewhat of a slow learner. It often takes two or three explanations or clarifications before I have a complete understanding of the subject matter. With that in mind, I would like to further clarify my recent appointment (also known as a “second charge”) atContinue reading “In A Nutshell | April 14, 2023”

Honoring the Heroic Sacrifice of Our Savior I’m just finishing a book about the Tuskegee Airmen, the highly skilled but greatly undervalued black pilots who engaged in a number of pivotal missions for the United States during World War II. Like all pilots of that era, they put their lives on the line with everyContinue reading “In A Nutshell | April 7, 2023”

Combing Through Life’s Unavoidable Problems For most of us, there are at least two things that come with age: wisdom and gray hair. I’m not sure that I have become much wiser over the years, but I have certainly become much grayer. The person who cuts my hair tells me that gray hair is moreContinue reading “In A Nutshell | March 31, 2023”

Spring Has Sprung: Engage in Active Outreach  Now that winter is over — at least officially — it’s time for us to come out of hibernation and back into the real world. True, March can a fickle month – warm and sunny one day, cold and blustery the next — but warmer weather is onContinue reading “In A Nutshell | March 24, 2023”

Take Your Time, But Give It Back, Too The old saying, “Don’t lose sleep over it,” is sage advice for those who find themselves tossing and turning at night after experiencing an angst-ridden day. It’s best to let it go, if possible, and get a restful night’s sleep. Sometimes, however, loss of sleep is unavoidable —Continue reading “In A Nutshell | March 10, 2023”