Recent Articles
03/25/2020
Easter will be different this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Larry and I must stay home. My kids and grandkids have to stay inside their homes too. Bummer. I like my Easter traditions, and I can’t imagine not doing what we always do on Easter Sunday. Every year, we attend a Sunrise Service where […]
11/14/2019
Christmas is an especially difficult holiday when there is an empty chair at the table following the death of a loved one. One of the deep needs of a grieving person is to know that others are walking with them on the grief journey. To acknowledge a friend’s grief is a gift that many won’t […]
01/31/2018
Chris and Becky Marlink have established a wonderful Valentine’s Day tradition that allows them to make time for each other on a regular basis. Each year, Chris gives Becky 12 envelopes with ideas for date nights. “12 date nights means time together throughout the year,” says Chris—and it also means no vegging out in front […]
01/24/2018
By Chris Marlink “A great marriage takes TIME.” — Captain Obvious A flourishing marriage takes time A flourishing marriage requires the investment of significant amounts of time. That’s obvious, right? No one stumbles into relational bliss. You have to sweat for it. You have to put in the time. The thing is, even if […]
11/29/2017
Imagine that at 12:01 AM on New Year’s Eve, God gives each of us a brand new notebook. This notebook has 364 pages, and all the pages are blank. On the cover of the book is the title, “Your New Year’s Opportunity.” What would happen, if every day, we turned to a fresh page and […]
What was one of the most meaningful gifts you have received at Christmas? When I reflect on special gifts received, one that immediately comes to my mind didn’t cost money or require hours of shopping. Yet this gift continues to lift my spirits whenever I think about it. It energizes me when I am feeling […]
11/20/2017
Dear readers, I am longing for something beautiful, meaningful and joyous to happen this Christmas season. Maybe you are, too! I believe one way to fulfill this longing is to focus our attention outward to those who are sad, lonely or grieving. We are surrounded by individuals who need our care. Often we ignore or avoid […]
