by Don Freeman | Feb 6, 2024 | Blog
When I was about 11 years old, I began hearing my parents talking about building a bigger house. Soon, they had plan books and in-depth talks around the kitchen table. It took a period of many months, but the decision was finally arrived at. My father wanted the new...
by Don Freeman | Feb 3, 2024 | Blog
Wars, both past and present, have employed it, or at least convened to discuss it. The ‘it’ I’m referring to is a ceasefire. I’d like to propose, to all who are currently ‘firing,’ that we engage in a 24-hour ceasefire. The ‘firing’ I’m thinking of is the unusual...
by Don Freeman | Feb 1, 2024 | Blog
Jesus has now returned to his Father. The disciples are experiencing power outbreaks of the Kingdom. In particular, where we pick up this story, they’ve just brought healing to a man who’s been paralyzed since his birth over 40 years ago. As you read this Bible story,...
by Don Freeman | Jan 30, 2024 | Blog
‘Bold,’ ‘Daring,’ ‘Fearless,’ ‘Courageous,’ ‘Willing to risk,’ ‘Not restrained by shame.’ These are dictionary definitions for the word, ‘audacious.’ I think of pioneers settling in new lands, builders working with untried materials, scientists discovering new medical...
by Don Freeman | Jan 27, 2024 | Blog
These were the classes that made the school day worthwhile: Math, English, and French. It’s because of the ‘lightbulb.’ You know that moment when the new math concept fell into place and the all-important light came on? Or, when the verb conjugating finally made sense...
by Don Freeman | Jan 25, 2024 | Blog
I’ve recently had an ‘aha’ moment. It’s a silly one, but just something I’ve never thought about before. Book publishers have creative artists on staff who design dustjackets so that the books they publish will have greater instant appeal to their target audience. I...
by Don Freeman | Jan 23, 2024 | Blog
We’re probably all familiar with the story of the Emperor who had an ego/wardrobe problem. His subjects were mostly pre-convinced of the beauty of his new, exotic raiment and therefore unwilling to admit to the scandalous truth of his bared ‘royalty.’ The oohs and...
by Don Freeman | Jan 20, 2024 | Blog
My stopping to self-reflect for a minute or two reveals a flawed, inner character. Of course, it may have pleasant overtones, some social tact, a couple of helpful tendencies, and a quick, toothy smile, but deep down there are ‘issues’ lurking, often undetected. Come...
by Don Freeman | Jan 18, 2024 | Blog
On the wall in my office is a simple watercolor of a single artist’s paint brush, laid horizontally. Printed discreetly beneath the brush is this quiet, artist’s prayer: “Paint in my life a portrait of Jesus.” I treasure this art print, a gift from a Vineyard...
by Don Freeman | Jan 16, 2024 | Blog
American cartoonist H.T. Webster, for his comic strip, The Timid Soul (circa 1924), created his character, Casper Milquetoast, who was described as the man ‘who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick.’ Today, the term, ‘milquetoast’ refers to any timid soul...
