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Declutter and Organize
I don’t know about you, but I have seen article after article and post after post about the title of this post – declutter and organize. I understand that at this time of year, many think that the first of the year is the time to declutter your house and organize your belongings. After all, it’s been cold outside and many of us have spent the bulk of our time indoors. When ice and snow and below freezing temperatures were added to the mix, we all hunkered down in our homes. Added to that, during this last year the Coronavirus has kept us at home even more. The thought of contracting Covid-19…
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It Sticks With the Kids
Last Sunday evening, we restarted Pew Packers. Well, we actually started what we are calling “Pew UNPackers,” in an attempt to remind the young people to not crowd up on the seats as we continue to do what we can, but to do so safely. For just 10 minutes before services, our younger children meet down front. We spend about 5-6 minutes singing Bible songs (some more “fun,” but some more “informational,” such as the books of the Bible), and the remainder of the time is spent learning Bible facts. (More about that in a moment.) I hadn’t realized how much I missed Pew Packers until we were involved in…
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Are You Tired of Masks Yet?
During the past year, the “mask policy” has changed multiple times. National, state, and local governments have mandated a variety of changes in policy. These changes have often been difficult to understand and even more difficult to enforce. There have been instances when one set of policies has conflicted with others. Various levels of government have not been alone in adopting confusing and conflicting policies. Businesses, churches, and other organizations have also felt the need to adopt their own “mask policies.” All of this has even filtered down to the family and individual levels. Some families and individuals refuse to wear a mask and/or require others to do so in their presence while others make…
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How Do You Measure Success?
I’m a teacher and it is spring. That means that thoughts are continually turning toward those “end of the year assessments” that states require in order to see if students have made adequate progress. Of course, this year we are all interested to see what happens after an abbreviated school year in 2019-2020 and such unusual teaching conditions in 2020-2021. Some students are just now going back to in-classroom learning while others have been there all year. Some teachers have perfected the art of “remote teaching” while others are trying to survive while teaching both remote students and those in the classroom with them. Testing is not a foreign concept…
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The Danger is the Subtlety
A neighborhood in Pennsylvania had a bad morning a few days ago. A small herd of deer came through the neighborhood–which is not that unusual. What was unusual was that a couple of the deer decided to just crash through doors and windows and run around houses for a little while! Multiple doors were damaged and a couple of houses were broken into as the deer ran into and around the houses before going back outside. Other neighbors reported other damage to their property. As of now, no one is all that sure what caused the deer to do this. I want us to use that weird event to think…
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The Worst Kind of Distancing
When I first heard the term “social distancing,” I really didn’t understand what was meant. Now, after a year or so, I understand what is meant. I also understand the reason for suggesting (or mandating) its practice. The fact that I understand the term and the practice does not mean, however, that I like it. I like to interact with people in person. I like handshakes, hugs, and even an occasional pat on the back. I like it when I can actually communicate when I can see facial expressions, “body language,” etc. I honestly believe that God intended for us to be social creatures. I understand that the observation that “…It is not good…
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Episode 146: How to Raise Secular Children, Part 3 [Podcast]
https://media.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/content.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/Legacy_Podcast_146.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS (Player not displaying or working? Click here to listen.) In the final part of a three-part series, Adam and Leah share that one way to raise secular children is to put school and sports activities as a higher priority than church. Though children need involvement in other things, which area dominates your family’s life? Find our podcast on… Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Radio RSS
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Making Choices In Life
Have you ever made a choice in life that you wish you hadn’t made? I’m sure all of us could answer yes to this question. Choices are a part of everyday life. We choose to get up at a certain time. We choose what we will do with the time we have in that day. We choose what we will wear, what we will eat, where we will go, and on and on the list goes. I well remember a choice I made when I was newly married and first teaching school. I went into a well-known clothing store to look at the clothes. I saw a beautiful black pantsuit with a red…
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How Many Warnings Will We Need?
In a small town in Illinois, there is an historic bridge, built in 1906. The covered bridge is a bit of a landmark in the town, but it also recently made headlines because someone ran into it…again. The bridge was closed for repairs for some time and reopened last August. Since then–just over 5 months ago, the bridge has been run into no less than fourteen times. The clearance on the bridge is unusually low–just 8 feet, six inches–so taller trucks and busses have run into it continually. However, there are signs on top of the bridge. There are signs just before a driver would get to the bridge. There…
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What About The Other Wheels?
It is one of those “old sayings” that most of us have heard many, many times. We may have even used it ourselves from time to time. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. That statement can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It seems to me that the most common interpretation has to do with a person or group who is constantly complaining and/or demanding. Attention that could be given and effort that could be utilized somewhere else is directed toward appeasing what may only be a perceived oversight, mistreatment, etc. The issue may not have anything to do with complaining or demanding. It may just very well be that some circumstances may…
