The older I get, the more I value the friends I have and the more time I want to spend with them. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in his poem “Youth and Age,” wrote “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” I like that image for friendship, especially friendships that have endured over time. An unknown author said, “Friends …
Making Music at Christmas
This Christmas, I had several opportunities for making music. Music allows me to worship God more than any other medium. I worship when I sing and when I listen to music. The Lewis Center United Methodist Church Choir presented a cantata this year. Cantatas are a beautiful way of making music. They also seem to …
Four Christmases in One Week
How was your Christmas? Mine was wonderful, although a little different than usual. In fact, I had four Christmases in one week. Usually I just stick to two, sometimes three. Four might be a little much. The first of the four Christmases was on Sunday, December 24. In the morning Tom and I attended Lewis …
Five Favorite Places of 2023
Every year since Tom and I retired, I have written a blog post about our five favorite places. Sometimes I have to expand the list a little, but I can usually narrow it down to five or six. You can read each of the favorite places lists by searching for favorite places in the blog …
The Whitney House in Worthington, Ohio
On one of the few wintery evenings in December, Tom and I met John and Jackie at The Whitney House in Worthington for supper. Although John and Jackie have eaten there several times, it was a first visit for Tom and I. John made reservations, which was a good thing because the restaurant was very …
Ten Best Books of 2023
According to Goodreads, I have read 137 books this last year. Because I am writing this on December 28, I have two more books that I am sure I will finish before the end of the year. I read this record (for me) number of books because we didn’t have any television for four months …
Evangelical United Brethren Heritage Center
Last week Tom and I visited the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage Center. The Center is located in Dayton, Ohio at United Theological Seminary. For those of you who are not up on your United Methodist History, the Evangelical United Brethren united with the Methodists in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church. The Methodists started …
New Roof For Our Little House
Tom and I got a new roof for our little house! Merry Christmas! Even better, our insurance company, State Farm, paid for it. That’s the short version of the story. Read on for a more detailed version. Back in August, the neighbor who watches our house when we are gone sent me a picture of …
Advent Bible Study: Heaven and Earth
During Advent I led my first Bible since I retired. Some people at Lewis Center United Methodist Church had been asking for an evening Bible Study and both the pastors were too busy to do it. They asked me if I would be willing to do it and I gladly said yes. Then I went …
Nicola Tuscan Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio
For Jackie’s birthday, Tom and I took Jackie and John out to eat at Nicola Tuscan Restaurant in Columbus. I had never been there, and I like having new places to write about for the blog. Nicola Tuscan Restaurant would be classified as fine dining. The chef, Nicola Bedalli and his lovely wife Esperanza opened …