Take all the preparation we make for Christmas. All the shopping, all the chopping, all the planning, all the worrying, all the harvesting and blending and decorating and redecorating. Take all of the secrets and surprises, the dreams and the doubts and despair and delight. It all comes down to a very simple meal around […]

Ninety years ago yesterday, Tom Kies was born. He doesn’t own the farm where he was born any more, but his grandson does. He doesn’t drive the combine anymore, but he rode along for many hours this fall. He lost his wife of sixty-four years in September. When family and some friends gathered last night, he […]

Luke 7:36-50 She wasn’t even invited to the party. She slipped in, like a servant. She moved behind the guests, like a servant. She knelt by Jesus’ feet, like a servant. The first indication that she wasn’t one of the regular servants must have been the smell. The aroma, actually, since expensive perfume doesn’t smell. […]