Tag Archives: church

The Scent of Love by Nancy J. Farrier

A few weeks ago, in church, a woman sat in front of us for the service. I’ve met this woman and she is very nice. However, she must be a heavy smoker. The smell of cigarette smoke clung to her … Continue reading

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The Wings of the Lord by James R. Coggins

Fourth in a Series Reading the story of Ruth gleaning in the vineyard of Boaz (Ruth 2:1-12), I was struck by the force of Boaz’s words to Ruth: “May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, … Continue reading

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Wedding Reflections by Julie Arduini

Well, our last big event of the summer is behind us. Our son Brian married Brianna over the weekend. As I watched him on the platform, smiling as they were announced Mr. and Mrs., greeting everyone, I thought about the … Continue reading

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An Honest Look at Life in the Church by James R. Coggins

I will start at the rather ordinary beginning and assure you that the more extraordinary matter later on is worth waiting for. I first met Dawn Miller by mail many years ago. I was an editor with a church denominational … Continue reading

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Would Jesus Go to Church? by James R. Coggins

“If Jesus came to earth today, he would be spending his time on the streets, helping the poor and the marginalized, not in churches.” I encounter such sentiments frequently on social media. This ties in with other attitudes in modern … Continue reading

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The Compassionate Church by Nancy J. Farrier

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I were on the church patio area talking with one of the members. We were having a nice chat when, as often happens these days, the subject turned to Covid and the … Continue reading

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Famous Coggins Quotations by James R. Coggins

After a writer is dead, some anonymous scholar often collects the best quotes from all of his written works, reducing his laboriously written tomes to a few sound bites. I decided to save this anonymous scholar some work and compile … Continue reading

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Approaching Pentecost by Kathy Carmichael

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and to … Continue reading

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Lasting Friendships by Tara Randel

Last spring, our church experienced a merge with another local body. Our pastor wasn’t quite ready to retire, but when the suggestion came up, he decided to leave earlier than planned. He wanted to go on a speaking circuit of … Continue reading

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