In the Christian faith we talk about bread often. We use phrases such as bread of life, bread of God which comes down from heaven, and eternal bread. In most cultures, bread is the staple of life. In some cases, it is all some get to eat for daily sustenance. On August 5th, we will be looking at the story of Jesus describing the "spiritual nature of bread" that is life-giving and never spoils. Unfortunately, the people who heard these words were looking for something special, something spectacular that would be a sign to them that this "bread of life" was like not other bread they had tasted. As Kathryn Matthews states: "The people ask for signs and bread, and Jesus talks about faith. Not ju

Come on, admit it, you have at one point in your life given your car a name. If you are a guy, you probably began the naming of your car back in your teen years. Am I right? What name did you give your first car? "Research shows that over a half of U.S. drivers have names for their cars! The name is as important as the car because it creates a special bond between the driver and the car. A driver [doesn't] pick the car. The car'll pick the driver! It's a mystical bond between man and machine! Naming your new car gives it a certain personality so you, as an owner, you're bonding with your car and you may have a stronger sense of ownership. Not only that, choosing the perfect car name can infl

A man went to get a new passport which required a new picture. His previous one was over ten years old. He said to the clerk, "I like the original one better." She replied, "Trust me. Ten years from now, you'll like this one." Ouch! If you have gotten a passport within the last ten years, maybe you know what the man and the clerk are saying. For both, it was a matter of their perspective. For example, the man was seeing physical changes he didn't like. Maybe he wasn't smiling quite as nicely as he did in the last one. The clerk, however, saw things from another perspective — what seemed like a bad photo was only going to look better than he will in ten years. Jennifer Copeland, the Executive

We have lived at our current address for seventeen years. It is the longest we have lived in one house our entire married life. Yet, we are the "newbies" in our cul-de- sac! Needless to say, we all consider one another "good" neighbors. In fact, a few years ago, a neighbor four houses down had his propane tank explode on his back porch. Brenda, my wife, decided to help by running over with a fire extinguisher as his deck and house were being engulfed in flames. Well, it's the thought that counts. In the gospel of Luke we read of a story where Jesus is confronted by an expert of the Law, and the following takes place: 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher,"

This week is a special week in our family as my granddaughter turns three. Plans are being made. All the grandparents will be there. Her aunt and uncle are coming up from Alabama. Friends and family will be coming together to celebrate in "Minnie Mouse" fashion (my granddaughter's favorite right now). What could possibly go wrong? Whether it is bad weather such as rain or excessive heat, or whatever food is being served, I am quite sure that presents will prevail and our granddaughter will be happy no matter the weather or the food, just bring on the cake and presents! Have you ever tried to put together a birthday party? Whether it is a surprise or not, the "best laid plans" as they say, ma