Faith Archive

I don’t know what romantic thing you did for Valentine’s Day, but my wife and I gave blood. It was her idea.

She is always ready to give blood whenever “The Big Red Bus” is in town and I always ask, “What are they giving away?”

When the temperatures recently dipped into the 20s here on the Emerald Coast, I was robbed of a favorite seasonal pastime: flaunting our balmy weather before my family and friends living in the north.

Instead, they mocked me as I whined about temperatures they consider to be a warming trend. I have grown so soft that what little fashion sense I possess is lost in such weather.

At a Feb. 21 Sunday mass, the St. Sylvester’s chapter of the Columbiettes presented a $2,500 donation to the Pregnancy Resource Center of Navarre (PRCN).

The funds were raised from the sale of a church cookbook. Chapter president, Angela Edwards and Financial Secretary, Ann Teston, presented the check to PRCN Executive Director Betsy Bower and Ellen Stanley, director of client services.

Several months ago, I wrote a column about deceased Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias and how I had benefited from his ministry.

Recently in the news I read that the accusations of sexual misconduct and sexual abuse leveled against him in recent years by several women have proven true.

On Feb. 6, a crowd of about 30 friends and supporters looked on as a ribbon was cut marking the official opening of Grace’s Place, a place where “healed broken chicks (help) broken chicks heal.”

Grace’s Place founder and self-described “healed broken chick,” April Fisher, recounted for the crowd the long journey that led up to this day.

When First Baptist Church Navarre began its English as a Second Language (ESL) classes six months ago, they knew that they were addressing a great need in Santa Rosa County.

Their research had revealed that about 12,000 people for whom English is not their primary language live within a 10-mile radius of the church.
Since then, this new ministry has experienced tremendous growth.

A lifetime ago, I was the lead guitarist for a rock band.

When I admit this in church circles, it is met with a bemused look that says, “Really?” I will admit, I bear little resemblance to a “rocker” with my gray hair and conservative attire but put a guitar in my hands and my claim is quickly validated.

It was the first Thursday of February, cold and damp outside but warm and welcoming inside Risen Savior Lutheran Church.

A small team of volunteers arrived to assist Pastor Craig Born and his wife, Jennifer, in the final preparations for the monthly “Jesus Cares Worship at the Cross,” a worship service for anyone with special needs or cognitive impairments.