Thwack, thwack, thwack. Thwack, thwack, thwack. The dull sound of flesh hitting flesh as forearms collide in waltz time pulses through the karate dojo, accompanied by low conversation. Nearby I hear a faster tempo as two of the guys with muscular arms go at it twice as fast as everyone else. Next we go to […]
Stories
Karate and the Kingdom Part 3: Respect Authority
I stood at the edge of the mat at my first karate class, observing the flurry of action before me. There were about twelve people out on the mat, all performing the same movements of a kata (a choreographed series of blocks, strikes, and kicks), all at the same time, yet at different speeds and […]
To the Top Part Four
A bright yellow sign stood guard at the trail with an ominous command to turn back immediately if there was any question of the weather’s safety. “Wow, that’s intense,” Debbie remarked. On a day like today, the bright blue sky made the threat seem innocuous, but it was not hard to imagine getting disoriented if […]
The Frances Project: A Legacy of Service
On July 23, 2014, one of the strongest, spunkiest women to ever grace the planet was gathered home to her Savior’s bosom. Frances Catherine Fisher, my grandmother, was a member of the greatest generation. She survived the influenza epidemic of 1918, two world wars, the Great Depression, the early death of her true love, and […]
How Spending Time with God Can Change Your Life
In a previous post I talked about a habit that can have a powerful influence on your life. I wanted to show you more of what this habit can do for you, so I asked some of my friends and family to share what they’ve experienced from spending time with God. Their stories were so […]
Why It’s Good to Give Thanks for Everything – Even Fleas
It was almost too much to bear. They were in the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp, the worst of all concentration camps, being transferred to more permanent quarters. Corrie had already cried when they first arrived as she had cut Betsie’s long chestnut hair off because of lice, and now this. The two Dutch sisters, Corrie […]