Lightning in a Bottle

When you were a kid, did you catch lightning bugs and put them in a jar?

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Did you call them lightning bugs or fireflies?

I can remember the lightning bugs at my grandfather’s house in the summer. They were everywhere. We used to love to catch them. Sometimes we would let them crawl up a finger to the tip, spread their wings and fly. 

It was a part of what we did in the summer outside after dark — play kick the can, play hide and seek and catch lightning bugs. 

Did you know that they are actually a type of beetle? I think that’s creepy. I would have never allowed them to crawl on me had I known!

And did you know why they light up? It’s the girls’ way of finding a boy — turning their abdomens fluorescent yellow!

I hadn’t seen any around here for quite some time but I hadn’t really thought about it until last weekend when we were out in the country after dark. There they were. They say that all the lights in the city keep lightning bugs away because they can’t communicate well with each other unless it’s dark. Sorry little bugs!

LORD, you sure had a vivid imagination when you created lightning bugs because they are funny looking little things. Regardless, they have brought joy to many a child over the years. And for that I thank you. 

We Praise You God, Our Creator

What is the purpose of creation?

According to Genesis, while God was creating the heavens and the earth and the waters and the dry land and the daylight and the darkness, he also created Adam. But he thought Adam looked lonely. So he made critters for him. Then He realized the animals didn’t really fill the void in Adam’s life, so He created Eve. 

I think God gave us all of creation for our enjoyment, satisfaction and fulfillment. But I don’t think He intended for us to idolize any of it. He wanted us to look at all this cool stuff around us and to be reminded of Him, the Creator. 

Take The Mona Lisa, for instance. It’s an interesting work of art, to be sure. Great hosts of people visit the Louvre in Paris every year in order to see it in person. But they know the Mona Lisa didn’t paint herself. Leonardo da Vinci did. She is his handiwork. He gets all the glory for how wonderful she is. 

Henry Van Dyke penned the words to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” in 1907. His second verse hits the nail on the head:

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and Heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee. 

We see this concept in the New Testament as well. 

And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭RSV

Make no mistake about it. God thought we would enjoy all the things He created. But he wants us to worship Him as a result. 

LORD, thank you for creating the earth and the sky and the sun and the moon and the stars and the mountains and the waters and the plants and the animals and the people. It is all so fascinating. Help us to be mindful of your creation this week and to quickly give you all the praise and glory for its perfection. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

What do you do when it rains on your wedding ceremony?

Stock Photo by Emma Naylor Photography

Some say that rain on your wedding day brings good luck and can actually be very romantic. 

When we married in July 1982, it was very hot. Our ceremony was in the nicely air-conditioned First Baptist Church in Bowling Green. We had our own little wedding shower that day. I don’t believe in “luck” and everything about our wedding was already romantic. But I can definitively say that our lives together started out really “steamy!”

This is wedding season. And rain moved across the bluegrass this evening. So for those who tied the knot in this mess, I have this to say. “Look for the rainbow!”

God created the rainbow as a sign of promise. He made a covenant with Noah that never again would He destroy the earth by flood. He has kept that promise for a very long time. 

Rainbows show us vivid, almost electric colors. They show us God’s majesty. They remind us of His love. Even after a wedding shower rainbows declare that there is hope in the Lord. 

LORD, thank you for giving us your covenant of marriage. Thank you for your well-kept promises for our provision. And when we experience a storm, thank you for your rainbow!

Where is Everybody Going?

My father-in-law used to say this sometimes when we were on the road, referring to all the other vehicles. “Don’t you wonder where all these people are going?”

I had occasion to sit on a bench tonight beside a silo out in the middle of nowhere. I heard several different sounds, none of them made by a human. 

• squawking, cooing and melodious birds
• the occasional honk of a goose 
• buzzing little stinging things, fluttering pesky things (at least there were no cicadas)
• an occasional barking dog way in the distance 
• Jet planes way overhead 
• about 20 cars on the little country road 

As I sat there taking in all the sounds around me, I was jolted back to reality by several cars coming down the lane together. Where could so many cars possibly be going on this remote little road?

It turns out that they were all coming to the barn where I was sitting. Once they all arrived, no more cars came along. And then I started hearing laughter and squeals as those who had arrived greeted each other. 

All these people knew exactly where they were going — to a very specific celebration in honor of a very special friend. 

Will heaven be like that? I know that I’m going there. When I arrive, I will celebrate my very special friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I will never stop. 

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and are interested in learning more about it, let me know. I’ll be glad to explain the simplicity of it. 

Pray for James

I have a friend who told me recently about her brother, James. You should see her eyes when she talks about him. They dance. She clearly loves and respects this man as well she should. 

Growing up he was the man of the house, taking upon himself to care for his mother and his sister. 

Later he joined the military and did multiple tours of duty, just recently coming home to his wife and two young boys. Like many veterans, he shied away from the spotlight when his hometown celebrated his homecoming. Humility runs through his veins. 

He recently started a massive project, building a house out in the country for his family. That undertaking has now been put on hold. 

A couple of weeks ago, James went on a trail ride with a group of friends. I’m not sure exactly what happened but something spooked his mount and he took him for a horrifying run which culminated in James being thrown to the grown. 

His pre-teen son was one of the first to reach his side. And there he stayed until his dad regained consciousness and they loaded him up for transport to a hospital. The accident was in such a remote area that it took medical personnel hours to extract him by placing his stretcher on a side-by-side and walking him to the main highway. His son ran ahead to flag down the ambulance with a flashlight, for by this time it had grown quite dark. 

I can’t imagine getting the phone call my friend received. James had been rushed to the operating room for emergency surgery to remove his obliterated spleen. He had, of course, suffered a concussion and had also broken most of his ribs. 

I also can’t imagine being so far away from my sibling or my son in a situation like this. 

Both my friend and her mother do not live close to him or to his hospital. And what about his wife and children?! She has been beside him the whole time. And the boys? Goodness!

James was initially only in the hospital for a few days and then he was discharged to his home. His discomfort did not subside, however, and eventually his abdominal pain became unbearable. Now after a second surgery he is resting in the hospital until he can get more stable. 

With the approval of my friend, I’m relating James’ story so that I can request your prayers. We are too far away from him to do anything “tangible” to help him or his family. But we can lift this brave young man and his family up to the Lord. Here are some things for which to pray:

• for James’ favorable response to antibiotics
• for his vital signs to stabilize 
• for his strength to return
• for his medical team
• for his wife and his mother as they juggle their time between him and his boys 
• for my friend as she keeps working and waiting for news about her brother
• for James’ two sons

I don’t know James but in my mind I can visualize his helpless 6’6” frame lying in the hospital bed. I can imagine his saying, “I survived 5 tours of duty to be nearly killed by a horse.”

LORD, Bless James and his family. Bless the medical team caring for him. Bless the men who have committed to finishing his house for him. Help us to remember to pray for him. We thank you for his life. We thank you for his future. Grant him health. 

Hope = Joy + Peace

Do you have people in your life who are particularly special to you? Friends. Relatives. Mentors. Do you sometimes wonder how to pray for them? 

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Rome. He loved these people. He had been very involved in their conversions and he really wanted to see them again. 

But since he couldn’t be there to teach them in person, he decided to write them a letter of encouragement and instruction. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭RSV‬‬

I think it’s interesting that the prayer Paul wrote for his dear friends started and ended with hope. 

Paul asks the God of hope to bestow joy and peace through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The result is bountiful hope for today and for the future. 

So we can pray for God to give joy and peace to our loved ones and know that the result will be everlasting hope. 

Is there someone in your life who appears to be particularly hopeless? Perhaps your prayer for them should be for the God of hope to fill them with joy and peace. 

LORD, Today I recognized someone in my world who seemed to be particularly hopeless. May you fill them with your joy and peace through your Holy Spirit so that they may be able to rest in your arms and experience your hope. 

Irrational vs Clear, Logical Thinking

When I was a little girl, I struggled with asthma. Extremes did me in. 

• too much heat
• too much cold
• too far away from home
• too much laughter 
• too much running
• too much scary stuff

I remember having to go to the ER on countless occasions — usually when we were on vacation or were away from home and had forgotten my inhaler. 

I remember getting all worked up one night in the bed at grandmother’s house because I could see a little red light outside in the darkness and I fancied that it was the devil. 

One time we were staying for the weekend at a friend’s home and I got terrified over something (who knows what). Mother stayed up with me most of the night trying to calm me down so that I could breathe. 

That is when Mother introduced me to this verse and helped me to memorize it. 

II Timothy 1:7 KJV

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Today I want to look at two components of this verse.

• fear
• soundness of mind

Someone once said that we can look at “fear” as an acronym: 

False Evidence Appearing Real

If someone has you in a chokehold with a handgun to your head, I think it’s safe to say that it is reasonable to be afraid for your life. 

But having an asthma attack over a little red light in the darkness is irrational. 

Having to leave a concert in a panic because an inhaler was left in the car is irrational. 

Not sharing with someone about God because of fear of rejection is irrational. 

For Christians, God’s Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. He goes with us everywhere we go. His characteristics spill out of us onto those around us — His power, His love and His rational thinking. 

And even with a handgun pointed to your head, God can give you the ability to stay calm and to think clearly about a way of escape.

So we have no good reason to be crippled by the unreal emotion of fear. 

What are some things that you have been afraid of that you later learned was unwarranted?

How did you combat the fear? Did you succumb to it. Did God replace the fear with rational thinking?

Did it take a concerted effort to overcome the fear or was it an easy thing to do?

LORD, Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for the fullness He gives our lives. Thank you for giving us the ability to think through things and to approach them purposefully. May you be glorified in us as we show the world who you are. 

FORTRESS (Psalm 18:2)

Once upon a time in the long lost world of kings and kingdoms, there lived a man and his family in a vacated castle on a hill between a bountiful meadow and a large, beautiful forest.

This man cared deeply for his family and provided for them well. They had vegetables from the fields, honey from some hives, eggs from their chickens, milk from their goats and meat from the animals nearby.  

Every day, the man would pray for God to protect them. 

One morning while tending the field the man realized the sky was getting dark. Looking to the west he saw lightning and a curtain of rain headed toward his home. Quickly he gathered his animals and family into the castle grounds. The trees of the forest began to bend in the wind. The rain began to beat against the rock fortress. Darkness enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the grey lifted and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe. 

That afternoon as the man tended the animals he heard a rumble in the distance. Looking to the east he saw the telltale signs of a thundering herd of wild horses headed toward his home. Quickly he gathered his animals and family into the castle grounds. The earth began to quake and the animals began to shake. The choking dust from the horses’ hooves enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the dust settled and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe. 

That night after everyone had settled into bed, the man went out onto the balcony to gaze at the majesty of the stars. Looking to the south he noticed lights in the darkness coming toward his home. Bandits. Quickly he secured the animals and fortified his home. Relentlessly the band of men attacked the man’s home with weapons with axes and with fire. But a point of entry the could not find. Then silence enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the morning broke and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe.

The next morning as the man prayed for God to protect him and his family, his young son overheard his father say these words:

I love you, LORD.

You are my ROCK.

You are my FORTRESS.

You are my DELIVERER.

You are my REFUGE.

You are my SHIELD, my POWER and my STRONGHOLD. 

LORD, We recognize that You are our Rock. On you we depend and not on ourselves. Thank you for your protection and deliverance and love. 

Coach Pitch Little League Baseball, Part II

Sunday, June 22, 2025

We rushed home from Somerset after church in order to be ready for Carter’s next tournament game at 3:30. It was hot as blue blazes out there but the guys didn’t seem to care. (Their fans did!)

Unfortunately, the Richmond All-Stars suffered their first tourney loss to Eastern (Lexington) and had to turn around and play a second game against another Lexington team, Bluegrass. We lost that game, as well, and were eliminated from the tournament. 

The Carter Fort cheering section was out in full force with Pa, Aunt Al, Harley and Aunt Tiffany not pictured. 



Sweet girls trying to find a little spot of shade. 

I forget sometimes that this child is only six. 

He’s a good little base runner. 

Our guys did a great job defensively. 

In fact, we had several shortstop-to-second force outs and we turned one double play. 

Nothing cures two losses in a row better than a water balloon fight with the coach. 

You know he’s a ball player when he wants to go home after 5 grueling hours in the heat and throw some more with his Poppers. 

He tossed the ball up and blasted it into the backyard a few times before daddy made him go inside for a shower. 

Well, I’m disappointed that our team didn’t make it to the championship or to state. But I think we did pretty well all things considered. 

LORD, thank you for providing some cloud cover tonight for the second game and for keeping everybody safe in this heat. Thank you for these fine boys on Carter’s team. And thank you that they had a good time.  

Coach Pitch Little League Baseball

Saturday, June 21, 2025

When our boys were little, they played for the Rich Pond Rockies in Bowling Green. When our daughter was little she played softball in Richmond. Now our grandson, Carter, has made the seven and under Richmond All-Stars team. They had their first tournament game today and won 18-7.

Our Carter is the lead-off batter and a good little base runner. He is 6.

“Other” Carter is 7 and played shortstop today. He had some good snags. 

Luke is pretty serious about catching. It was a hot day for all that gear. He’s is also 7. 

He’s a pretty intuitive player, here tossing under-handed to the first baseman for the out. 

Sweet smile from an excited boy!

They did a great job. 

Our family has been involved with sports from the very beginning. Bill played baseball, football and basketball. I never competed in sports but could hold my own waterskiing. Bill brought be into the baseball world before we were married, taking me to my first MLB game and teaching me how to keep score. 

When the boys played baseball, I was the team’s scorekeeper. Now that Carter is playing, I do the books whenever we are the home team. Today, though, I was just a spectator. And a proud one at that. 

I hope to have more baseball pictures tomorrow because the tournament continues in the afternoon. It will be another hot day. I hope we do well. 

LORD, thank you for the talent you have given these young boys. I pray that you will keep them healthy as they play in this heat. And I pray that we will all have fun!

Our Tour Guides

Friday, June 20, 2025

Our Tour Guides for the trip to Greece, Turkey and Italy were exceptional. 

While in Greece and Turkey we had the best woman ever, Anthoula, to see that we got from one place to the next without mishap. And in Italy, Gustavo did the same thing. We got to know these two fairly well. They did a great job of teaching us about the culture and keeping us engaged as we traveled from place to place. 

We had specialists that met us at each of our historic destinations. They taught us about the history, the culture and the Biblical significance of their respective locations. 

I was always a little nosy and would ask them directly about their religious perspectives. Some were Christian Orthodox. Some were Catholic. And some were Muslim. But they all respected our positions as Christians seeking to visualize where Paul had been. 

Imagine Tours did a great job of lining out our schedule and in getting some top notch guides. I was highly satisfied with the quality  of the tour guides, the superb accommodations and the tour from all perspectives. 

We are walking along the ancient wall of Thessaloniki. This is Anthoula and Vasilica.

We are in Phillipi. 

This is Metéora, the place where the monasteries had been built on the rock cliffs. 

If my memory serves me correctly, this is Norj, our tour guide for Turkey including Kusadasi and ancient Ephesus. 

I’m pretty sure this was our guide for Knossos. 

We are on the island of Santorini.

I think this is in the museum in Corinth. 

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t remember our bus driver’s name. He was so nice and could parallel park his beast on the left with his eyes closed! 

I’m gonna miss this woman. She was a riot. She talked about the moNASteries and referred to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” whenever possible. She held the other guides to the schedule. And she knew everybody’s names within a day of our arrival. I think if we lived near each other, we could be great friends. 

Federica showed us around in ancient Ostia. She was funny. At least SHE laughed at her jokes! 

Andreas (on the left) and Armadeus (on the right) took us through various Roman sites. 

Laura took us through the maze of the catacombs, flashlight at the ready. 

Sylvia took us through the Vatican. 

Gustavo was about Patrick’s age. He was born in Brazil but wanted to go elsewhere. So he learned English by watching “Breaking Bad!” He moved to Italy about ten years ago and learned the language and the culture. He married a Croatian girl and they have a very young daughter. He was delightful. 

LORD, Thank you for all the wonderful people you sent to direct our paths and to teach us about the ancient times. I pray that we made as much of an impact on their lives as they did on ours. 

Some Flowers in Greece, Turkey and Italy

Thursday, June 19. 2025

While in Greece, Turkey and Italy we saw enough rock/marble/granite to last us a lifetime. 

Sometimes the unexpected 

splashes of color were a breath of fresh air. 

Farmland in northern Greece

Kitten at the base of two date palms. This was not the first cat we saw nor was it the last!

These trees in Ephesus reminded me of the evergreen-lined road to my grandfather’s house.

Bougainvillea 

Blue Jacaranda 

Prickly Pear

Cathedral Cactus 

Jade Plant

Candelabra Aloe

Spruce? Cedar? It’s an evergreen!

Bougainvillea 

Spanish Broom

Gipsy Rose

I just love this shot through the relatively young evergreens of Delphi at the archaeological site in the valley below. 

Cyprus 

Umbrella trees — Italian Stone Pines

Purpletop Vervain

Oleander

Gazania

Nerium 

LORD, Thank you for the opportunity to see the vastness of your world. And when we were so far away from Kentucky I thank you for the jade plants and the cathedral cactuses and the pine trees that reminded me so much of home.