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“He Remembers That We Are Dust”: Encouragement for a New Year

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PLEASE NOTE: All verses are quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted. Any quotations given without a verse reference are my own interpretation. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Old Testament prophet Elijah. His life is filled with astonishing, unique events, one of which I can relate to all too well. Elijah’s origins are a mystery. He shows up for the first time in 1 Kings 17:1 : “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’” Where was Tishbe? No one knows for sure. What else do we know about Tishbe and Tishbites? Nothing. Elijah is the only person identified as such in the Bible. Elijah shows amazing confidence in the face of a wicked ruler who could easily have put him to death. I used to think that God had spoken to Elijah suddenly, in a dream perhaps, and told him out of the blue to go to Ahab wi...

The Not-So-Dry Tortugas

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The Yankee Freedom , docked at Dry Tortugas National Park. I am a planner. Back when I was a teacher, I planned out every day of the following school year before leaving for the summer. Every single day. That’s the truth. And anyone in my family will tell you that when it comes to vacations, my planning can become obsessive. I sometimes joke that if we leave for vacation five minutes late, the schedule for the entire week will be thrown off! I like to plan because I like having things organized; I like feeling secure; I like being ready for contingencies. I don’t like “winging it”; I don’t like being spontaneous; I don’t like going somewhere without knowing where we are going, how long we will stay, how much it will cost, or when we will get back. So I had done a lot of planning about a year ago when Cindy and I took a ten-day trip to Florida for our fortieth wedding anniversary. We did Florida from bottom to top, starting at the Keys, moving up to the Everglades, hitting Miami, ...

WARNING! Dad Humor Ahead!

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Dear friends, Every so often I am possessed—of a joke so corny, so lame, so groan-inducing, that I must turn it into a little comic. This is not because I am an amazing artist. It is not because I am an amazing humorist. It is simply because if I do not turn it into a little comic, the joke might die forever unheard, like a song unsung, a leaf un-unfurled, a cloud unmistified. So here’s the latest batch. May they lift your spirits if they need lifting at this festive time of year! I appreciate all who take the time to read my blog—thank you! Steve PS: If you enjoy these (really?), you can find more here . All material contained herein copyright 2024, Steven Nyle Skaggs

Men. And Women. And Restrooms.

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  IMPORTANT NOTES: ·          First, I’ve said before in this forum that I try to stay out of political arguments, and that’s still true. Sometimes, though, I feel compelled to weigh in on an issue, and this is one of those times. I see this topic as not mainly political, however, but societal. ·          Second, parental discretion is advised. The comments below are intended for an adult audience. ·          Third, I would love to hear thoughtful responses on this posting. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Am I oversimplifying? Am I missing something? I’m very interested in respectful responses that allow us to continue this discussion in a mature way. ·          Fourth, this is not a debate regarding the morality of “gender-affirming” (i.e., transitional, cross-dressing) actions and procedures. Such conversations...