awk59153

As we said goodbye to my teenage son at the Greyhound Bus Station in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a man wearing an overcoat approached. He gave us a toothless grin, then threw his coat wide open, revealing dozens of watches. “Wanna a watch?” he said. “Just $20.00 for a Rolex.” This was my introduction to the world of knockoffs. Since then, I’ve been offered counterfeit luxury items in Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, local swap meets, and online platforms. Everyone loves a bargain, don’t they? Like Gucci or Louis Vuitton designer handbags at a fraction of the cost. [...]

Mothers come in all shapes and sizes. The one on my front porch had a reddish-brown breast and soft dusty blue on her wings and tail, giving her a classy appearance. We’d put up a nest box to attract bluebirds, and she perched on its roof, then peeked inside to inspect it. Meanwhile, her escort whizzed around our yard, proudly displaying his brilliant “look at me” cobalt wings as he scrutinized the nearby plants and flowers. I found myself echoing Henry David Thoreau’s words: “The bluebird carries the sky on his back.” Apparently, the pair liked what [...]

On that first Easter morning, Satan’s agenda was shattered when he saw the stone was rolled away. Inside the tomb, two angels in white were seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. The thief who had come to steal, kill, and destroy had miscalculated—he never expected the resurrection. Neither did the Jewish leaders, who ignored every biblical promise, prophecy, and covenant that whispered a Savior was coming to redeem mankind. And in the fullness of time, the One God promised, entered the world to fulfill His destiny. He [...]

The Jailbird Ministry has reached a milestone—we’ve provided over 5,000 Bibles to WV inmates! It began with a small number of Bibles, limited resources, and a simple desire to reach inmates with God’s Word. I’m reminded of how Jesus fed the 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish. It’s the only miracle, besides the resurrection, that is mentioned in all four Gospel accounts. It reveals that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John considered this moment essential to understand Jesus. It not only verified that Jesus was the Messiah, but demonstrated His compassion for humanity. Shortly before Passover, [...]

As I entered our local Hallmark Store a few days before Valentine’s Day, I engaged in one of my favorite hobbies—people watching. Through the fragrance of candles, red roses, and chocolates, I made my way to the busiest part of the store where Valentine cards were as varied as the people who stood quietly, reading card after card, searching for the one that could express what they couldn’t quite put into words. While adults wrestled with their feelings, an eager little boy stood on tiptoe to reach a pack of Pokémon cards and stickers for his classmates. [...]

So . . . what are you going to do in the next twelve months? Have you made any resolutions? Do you want to lose weight or exercise more, find a new job, quit smoking, tell someone that you love them, or just try to keep your head above water? In 2026, we have 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds to make our good intentions a reality. Long term, the results can be disheartening. Eighty to ninety-five percent of people who successfully lose weight will gradually regain it. Stress and trauma can retrigger cravings [...]

Charles Dickens was deeply shaped by incarceration. When he was 12, his father lost his job as a pay clerk in the British Navy and was sent to debtor’s prison. His wife and children, except for Charles, soon followed. To survive, Charles was sent to work at Warren's Blacking Factory where he washed and labeled jars of boot polish for 10 hours a day. He would later write that the ordeal left him feeling “utterly neglected and hopeless.” This experience fueled his lifelong critique of systems that treated the poor like outcasts and neglected the helpless. In [...]

Sometimes the people who have the least to be thankful for, like prisoners, are the ones who appreciate even the smallest gesture of kindness. Incarcerated individuals live in a world where identity is reduced to a number and hope is rationed. It’s a realm where they’ve been stripped of agency, dignity, and connection. When the Jailbird Ministry reaches into that world—not with judgment, but with grace, it’s a reminder they’re still seen, still worthy, still redeemable. The Word of God is often an inmate’s first step to reconnect with God, purpose, and family.  Isaiah 55:11 says, “so [...]

It haunts me that consumers are expected to spend a record high of $13.1 billion dollars this year to celebrate Halloween. 196 million Americans will hand out candy, wear a “dress to impress” costume, and decorate their home or yard. People will also carve pumpkins, throw or attend a party, and visit a haunted house. The top costume for children is an action hero or princess, the top pick for adults, a witch or vampire. Pets will not be left behind, with 10% of shoppers dressing their pet as a pumpkin, hot dog, or bumblebee. Spooky trick-or-treaters [...]

I’ve never considered myself a bona fide shoe aficionado. To me, they’re just a practical necessity. They keep my feet out of the elements, prevent me from stubbing my toe, and stop me from putting my foot in my mouth! But after a knee replacement, I learned the right shoes can keep my body in alignment, provide proper support, and help me to feel my best. So, there I was at one of the big-box stores, looking for new sneakers amongst the swarms of children getting ready for another school year. In the beginning, humans wore shoes [...]