For several weeks now there has been a buzz everywhere you go about the incoming snow. At the time of writing this article the skies are clear blue and the air is cold, but the “winter storm” is on its way. My kids (and their parents) are pretty excited about the possibility of having some fun in a winter wonderland if it happens as they predict. But that is the thing, we never know if it will really happen as predicted. There is a chance...and maybe a really good chance...but no guarantee. And so we wait with hopeful anticipation for a fresh coat of snow to give the appearance of a clean yard and peaceful times. 

Have you ever ridden the WorryCoaster? It is quite an interesting ride. Lots of ups and downs and plenty of moments that will make you panic and want to get away. It’s not anything you will find at Six Flags or Disney World. It is in your own mind when you start letting worry have control of your thoughts. It might be about a doctor’s appointment, a test, a game, a review at work, a storm, or any number of things that people worry about on a daily basis. And usually, the WorryCoaster you ride before the event is much worse than the actual event itself.

I’m sure most of us grew up hearing something like “real men don’t cry” or maybe more harsh words like “quit being such a crybaby” when a boy was guilty of shedding a tear or two. In baseball if you got hit by a pitch the words from the dugout were usually “don’t rub it.” It was basically an encouragement to suck it up and move on without showing any signs of weakness. I am not certain where the concept of men not showing emotion started but I know where you do not find it. Scripture has several moments recorded where men cry and I would challenge anyone who dared call any of them weak.

One of my favorite obscure verses in the Bible is Philippians 1:3. Paul simply states, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” It is a simple statement but it is one that has come to have significant meaning for me. Since I was a young minister it is one of the verses that I often write next to my signature if I’m signing a card or something important for someone to keep. I like to think that every person has made some impact on my life and I try to recognize their importance through thanksgiving.

Cross Country is a tough sport. As someone said of Cross Country, “My sport is your sport’s punishment.” It takes a lot out of a person to run three miles as fast as they can with much of it being in places where spectators cannot see you. Sure there are crowds often gathered at the mile markers to let you know how you are doing or strategically placed throughout the crowd, but much of it is tackling hair pin turns, hills, and uneven ground in a wooded area. It is you and the path.

One of the most recognizable phrases in the Bible is found in the first paragraph of God’s Word: 

“In the beginning, Good created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).

The summer of 2024 is all but in the books. It has been another good one for us here at Highland Park. We have had several of our number get to go on mission trips and even more got to spend time at Maywood Christian Camp. It was followed by an amazing Vacation Bible School and soon after VBS we had people of all ages go and experience the Ark Encounter. Recently our college group went on a retreat and I heard good things from it.

Several weeks ago Travis and I had the opportunity to honor the life of our aunt Debbie who passed away suddenly. They were members at the River Road Church of Christ where her husband regularly led singing. When preparing for the funeral the family sent us a list of songs they found in her Bible. We aren't sure whether they were her favorites or they were the ones she loved for her husband to lead. Regardless they were some great gospel hymns. And so to honor her I took the list and turned it into a poem entitled Debbie's Song. We thought you might enjoy it:

There is a great song by the group Nickel Creek that tells a wonderful but sad story. The song opens with a young boy bringing his mother a gift: Her very own roses grown in her garden. What she immediately notices is that in his desire to give to her, he has been wounded by the thorns that buried themselves into his hands.

We tend to mark milestones in our community by years. If something happened 1

year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago, we mark it as a big event. Anniversaries, birthdays, and

other events are things that tend to be made more important by the year.

That holds true to both good and bad things that have happened in your life.