The following is part two of a letter to Simon of Cyrene that was written by Joseph McAuley (assistant editor of the magazine “America”) on March 26, 2016: “…Carrying a cross demands everything a person has and in doing so, Jesus went to the boundaries of endurance and beyond, when he could endure no more and offered himself totally. He became the receptacle of humanity’s untold sins, crushed for ...  Read More

Simon of Cyrene was from Libya in northern Africa. He was in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover when Jesus was taken into custody and crucified. He is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The following is part one of a letter to Simon that was written by Joseph McAuley (assistant editor of the magazine “America”) on March 26, 2016: “Dear Simon of Cyrene, In the New Testament narrative...  Read More

It’s easy to become discouraged and distracted in today’s world. With wars and the constant threat of conflict in so many places, you may find yourself wondering, “What is this world coming to? Will I make it?” These feelings are understandable, especially when uncertainty and fear seem to dominate the headlines and conversations around us. Popular culture often portrays the end of the world or th...  Read More

What is the difference between doing things out of desire ("I want to") versus obligation ("I have to")? Years ago, a church member was struggling financially. I saw that her son needed new shoes, so I helped to buy him a new pair. I didn’t think about being repaid or even the cost; I just wanted to bless him. This made such a lasting impact that years later, he still recalls this act as genuine k...  Read More

We just celebrated Martin Luther King Day on January 19 th . I loved his iconic speech, “I have a dream.” ‘Dream’ stood out to me because everything I see around me is somebody’s dream. As people, we were created to dream and, if we look at the world we live in, we can see God's dreams. The first book of the Bible, Genesis, gives the account of Creation including man; “In the beginning God created...  Read More

My mother went home to be with the LORD, June 21, 2021. She lived in another state, so my husband went with me to empty her home. I must admit it was quite a task. My mother was a child of the Depression; therefore, she believed in saving every newspaper, magazine, and the list goes on. As we emptied the house in order to put it on the market, I brought back with me some of her things. Why am I te...  Read More