    Pictured above are William and Wilhelmine (Minnie) Kruse behind the counter of their store in Humboldt, South Dakota. Both were born in Germany; William in 1849, Minnie in 1851. Both immigrated to America as children with their parents. They were married in 1871. Along with their store, they also farmed. The 1915 census recorded […]
   John Lewis Dyer (1812-1901; pictured above) was a Methodist circuit riding preacher in the 1800’s. These men went out to the very edge of the frontier to preach God’s word to the new settlers. There were no church buildings for the earliest pioneers, so these preachers traveled a wide circuit to meet with
3177) Saying Good-Bye Read More »
   There were two criminals crucified with Jesus. At first, according to Matthew’s account, both men mocked and insulted Jesus, just like much of the rest of the crowd present that day. Then later, according to Luke, one of the criminals apparently had a change of heart. He stopped mocking, and then had a
3165) “What are You Doing Here?” Read More »
From a funeral sermon: ————–    Elsie and her husband Ray lived in many places, did many different things, and endured many challenges together. In the early 1940’s Elsie worked for Boeing as a riveter; like “Rosie the Riveter” in the World War II posters. She was small, so her job was to crawl
3151) “I’m Just Fine” Read More »
From “How I Know Dogs Go to Heaven” by Joshua Rogers, posted July 30, 2013 at http://www.joshuarogers.com    I was 10 years old when I saw my neighbor run over my dog, Spot. In a horrific flash, Spot went under the tire, thrashed around in the front yard for a few seconds and then
3117) Do Dogs Go to Heaven? Read More »
Above photo: Reverend Robert A. “Rob” Kemppainen November 28, 1951 – April 27, 2024 ——————- When my good friend Rob died, his wife Marilyn asked me to say a few words at the end of the funeral service. In today’s meditation you can read what I said. I am posting it now, the day after
3105) My Friend Rob and His Music (1/2) Read More »
   Many people enjoy traveling, but everyone knows that travel has its frustrations.  Everything is unfamiliar, and you can spend a lot of your vacation time figuring things out and finding your way around.  It starts at the airport with, “How do we find the shuttle that gets us to the hotel, and why
3064) “There’s No Place Like Home” Read More »
   The 1984 movie “Places in the Heart” ends with a wonderful image of heaven.    The movie is set in a small town in Texas in 1935, in the middle of the Great Depression. It begins with the accidental killing of Sheriff Royce Spalding, a good man with a wife and two
3063) Heaven on My Mind Read More »
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. Â The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. Â –Revelation 21:21Â Â Â Â Â ———————- Â Â Â There was a rich man who wanted to take his money with him beyond the grave. Â When he was nearing
3030) Streets of Gold Read More »
Above: Tony Campolo, Baptist minister, college professor, author, speaker (1935-2024) **************************************** By Tony Campolo (see below)    I’m an Italian, but I belong to an African-American Church in Philadelphia. People sometimes ask me how a white guy like me ended up going there. I tell them it is because at that church they are
3024) Good Night, Clarence Read More »
