Considering the name of tomorrow’s holiday includes the word “giving,” it is only fitting that we spend the vast majority of our time in this season thinking about how we should be giving thanks, ultimately to God, but also to other people. Sometimes we struggle to show gratitude, so these reminders are necessary and helpful. That said, is it not also true that we sometimes struggle to appropriately be the recipient of thanks? When someone gives us a heartfelt “thank you,” we can often respond in ways that do not truly accept the thanks and, if we are not careful, can even be off-putting to the one who has shown…

For about a month now I have been getting rid of things we don’t need or use. I’ve been cleaning out closets, cabinets, and the garage. The donation center has seen us often and will probably see us a few more times before I’m finished! I asked myself, “Why do we have all of this stuff?” I know the answer – we bought it because we wanted it, but did we really need it?? Did any of it really make our lives better, or were we just filling a perceived need? Were we trying to make others think more highly of us with things, and not with actions? I’ve done…

Pedestals are used for a variety of reasons. We might be talking about the part of a vase that lifts the contents of the vase a little higher than would otherwise be the case. Maybe you have walked into a jewelry store and have noticed a pedestal being used to elevate one particular watch, necklace, or ring above all of the others. It could be a bakery, an art gallery, or a host of other places that make use of pedestals.    I think you get the idea. There is a subtle message when a pedestal is used. That message is something like: “Everything you’re looking at is special, but the…

I remember as a young boy being confused by one television show that I watched fairly regularly. I loved the show that began with “faster than a speeding bullet – more powerful than a locomotive – able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” It was that last part that confused me. You see, I grew up just outside of the small town of Metropolis, Illinois. The tallest building there was maybe four or five stories tall. I couldn’t figure out where all those tall buildings were in the Metropolis I saw on my parents’ black and white television. I hope you know that I was being more than a little facetious as I…

I’m honored to give up my space in A Legacy of Faith today to brother Hugh Fulford. As some of you may know, he sends emails and posts on Facebook some of his thoughts which he calls “Hugh’s News & Views.”   In my opinion, this particular material is a great “follow up” to something I posted earlier about the aging process. It is also my opinion that it makes some points that I did not make. I am reprinting brother Fulford’s material in its entirety and with his permission. –Jim Faughn (Note: I am indebted to my friend David Tant for the following poem from his “Thought For Today” of March…