Life In Greencastle

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places ..." - Ephesians 1:3 Yesterday afternoon this small band of pilgrims set out for a campsite back in our woods.  Earlier in the afternoon, my mother-in-law had gone down into the woods and started a fire out of left-over 2x4 pieces and dry sticks.  Then, steadily, she built up the fire - first with small logs then with larger limbs.  By the time our small community arrived at the site about two hours after she had started the fire we were greeted with hot red coals ready to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows.  It was about as simple an afternoon as you can have, and it reminded me that our Lord wants to help us redefine what it means to be rich. As I sat underneath a high canopy of trees near the fire and our children rambunctiously played football nearby, I couldn't help but feel blessed.  It was impossible not to feel ri

My daughter hasn't been sleeping well recently.  She's convinced that the shadows in the corners of her room are havens for monsters.  We've tried to tell her otherwise.  Mice, sure.  But no monsters.  There are no monsters. Sometimes she falls asleep when we are still awake and moving about getting ready for the next day - resting in the assurance that the scary things won't come out until after we are all at rest.  Sometimes she even sleeps through the night.  Other times, though, she drifts off to sleep only to wake up in the dark of night.  Scared, she does what all children do and drags herself and her five stuffed animals, comforter, and pillow out of her bed, across our house and places it all at the foot of our bed where we awake in the morning to find her nestled and cozy and sleeping.   Last night Elise awoke around 11 pm frightened and began her journey to our room.  I was still awake, lying on the couch in our living room letting my mind run back ov