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Just a clay pot on the outside, but a priceless treasure inside

It is true what they say, “You can’t always tell the value of something by the package it comes in.” That is true of preachers and it is certainly true of the rest of us who are witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It reminds me of the parable that Jesus told of the treasure of salvation buried in the dirt. The treasure was so valuable that the man sold everything to buy it or the pearl without price hidden in the ugly oyster shell for which a man gave up everything. The container doesn’t always reflect the value of its contents. That is the contrast delineated for us ...

Salvation and hope can be found in Jesus

My thoughts are still gravitating to Florida this morning, and our recent trip there. There’s a vision in my head that won’t go away, so, here I am, gotta get this one off my chest today. My husband and I were sitting around a table in an outside restaurant, waiting on our food, and taking in the view. All at once, the ‘view’ came into sight, and what a sight it was. Four girls came strolling by on roller skates, and while I had to do a double take to see if they truly had no clothes on, there was no doubt when they passed by. These four girls had ‘g strings’ on, or barely ...

How should pastors be examples to the flock?

But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. — John 20:24 As we consider the subject of Sunday morning worship and church growth, we must get rid of our modern-day ideas, and put ourselves in the time period of the early church. I have tried to focus on the early New Testament church and the truth of Scripture. But some people are saying, “Lyn Stimeling is writing divisive articles; he is even against regular church attendance. Nothing could be further from the truth.” I am writing against unscriptural man-made legalism in the church. If you ...

Chicken pot pie is on the menu in Bev’s Kitchen

Hello again from the kitchen! February is moving right along and we’re one day closer to spring. Before you know it, it’ll be time to plant those spring onions. When our kids were little, we grew a big garden. The spouse planted and I made meals and preserved what we harvested. Apparently I do not have a green thumb, as I tend to kill plants. I try, but I’ve come to the conclusion that someone else needs to grow them for me. Thank goodness for local roadside stands and markets. This past week was a busy one in the kitchen. Making food for the Super Bowl, Donut Day and ...

Exploring George Washington’s lesser-known side

As we approach Presidents Day, I thought it would be interesting to investigate and unearth some lesser-known facts about our founding father, George Washington. I will sift through the myriad of information out there to uncover the truths amidst the fictions. Let’s begin by debunking a popular myth. At the risk of disappointing you dear reader, I must expose the truth. According to every account I read, the enduring story of young George chopping down the cherry tree and then confessing the misdeed to his father is pure, unsubstantiated fiction. A good story with a wonderful ...

1973: Plans are finalized for the new MC Library

When we last talked about Library History, we ended in 1972 with a grant, an architect and momentum. The original architectural plans called for a 14,000 square foot two story building (7,000 square feet of floor space on each level) but due to the cost, the lower level would not be finished. I know from completing my annual reports for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries that I report the “library” as 9,630 square feet. As the months moved along toward 1973, so were the plans finalized for a new library building. There were still money woes as well as concerns over another go ...