By Brad Hutchcraft
I heard some whispers in church recently that made me smile. That Sunday, we sat down after singing, and a video played introducing a new teaching series. This particular video had some clips about the life of Jesus and the first disciples. As the images appeared on the screen, I heard the voices of two nearby children whisper, "It's Jesus!" Not just once, but they repeated it a few times in their whispers - hushed yet filled with wonder.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both called him one of the American Presidents that they revered the most - Theodore Roosevelt. He became a national hero, and soon President of the United States after his heroic leadership in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The objective of his unit was to take this strategic Kettle Hill and then San Juan Hill. Ultimately, his troops would have to advance uphill in the face of withering enemy fire. And his soldiers would long remember the order he gave to launch what turned out to be an historic advance. Unlike many military leaders, Teddy Roosevelt did not say, "Charge!" Instead, he shouted, "Follow me!"
By Ron Hutchcraft
King George and his army must have had a really good laugh. George Washington and his Continental Army had been whipped in battle after battle in their campaign to become independent from Britain. British troops had driven the Americans out of New York City, across the Hudson River, across New Jersey, and finally into Pennsylvania. Then came the winter of 1777, at a place outside of Philadelphia called Valley Forge.
By Brad Hutchcraft
We have a tree in our yard that is one of my favorite things. Sure, a tree might be no big deal to some, but it means a lot to me. I have always loved the changing of seasons, especially seeing the leaves change color each autumn. I think it started with the story my mom and dad would tell me growing up. They would tell us that the angels came out to paint the leaves at night when the weather got cooler. That was always such a cool picture to me. It didn't help me ace my science exams, but still a memorable story from my childhood.
It was fall, and my wife and I headed to see the leaves in northwest New Jersey. We had cider and donuts, and our eyes were filled with God's great autumn art show. We were headed home, when I crested a hill and saw a long traffic jam. What was this bumper-to-bumper doing in my country paradise?
The unending chapel at Asbury University has ended.
Has the "revival"?
Spontaneous combustion. It's rare - but it can start a raging fire.
It's defined as "ignition without apparent cause."
They're in all the paintings of the First Thanksgiving. And all the season's grade school plays.
Native Americans. The First Americans.
We invited them to dinner that historic day.
Then we forgot them.
And today their monumental battle to survive is nowhere on our radar. Take the suicides of young Native Americans, for example. Happening again and again in Native communities. With a suicide rate at least three times of the rest of the nation - skyrocketing to seven and ten times greater in some areas.
Unbelievable. It's time for another graduation season! And, wow, has the world changed since I was the one "commencing."
But the commencement ceremony itself? Not so much. Same sweat-a-lot robes. Same funny, flat hats with that annoying tassel. And the same lofty "we will change the world...follow your dream" speeches. Inspired by the view from the top of Mount High School.
Sadly, many will look back later from the Valley of Reality and ask, "Whatever happened to those graduation dreams?"
I've handled my share of bills in my life. But the one from the orthodontist was the best bill I ever got.
