by Don Freeman | Jan 18, 2024 | Devotional
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 | Devotional
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...
by Don Freeman | Jan 13, 2024 | Devotional
A recently heard, touching story is worth retelling here. While on vacation in Australia, a man retired from the US Coast Guard was visiting a winery for a tasting of fortified wines called Port, for which this winery was renowned. As the group of tourists was getting...
by Don Freeman | Jan 11, 2024 | Devotional
It’s the nightmare of every host and hostess. A request for more food or more to drink – but there isn’t any more! (that’s why we usually over-compensate by an over-abundance, just to be sure it doesn’t happen on our watch!) If it’s the fourth day of Jewish wedding...
by Don Freeman | Jan 9, 2024 | Devotional
“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose...
by Don Freeman | Jan 6, 2024 | Devotional
Once upon a time in a world long ago, one could hear the gentle request: ‘A penny for your thoughts.’ I’m not sure how much inflation has impacted that amount, or if there is a today version of it, but when someone asks that of me, I often find myself drawing a blank,...
by Don Freeman | Jan 4, 2024 | Devotional
It’s inspiring to spend time with someone focused on a big goal. A big goal quietly excludes many lesser ones. Bodybuilders avoid empty carbs. Solo musicians carve out large chunks of time daily for practice. Olympic athletes likewise devote massive amounts of...
by Don Freeman | Jan 2, 2024 | Devotional
To be sure, there are bumper stickers to suit every taste, and Sunday, on our way home from lunch after church, we saw a new one which read: ‘Cool! This calls for a spreadsheet!’ One instantly wonders about the person who chose it. While I might surmise we have little...
by Don Freeman | Dec 30, 2023 | Devotional
A couple of years ago, Vineyard USA Coaches offered to provide three pastoral coaching sessions for free to interested pastors. I jumped at the chance and found myself in monthly Zoom meetings with a coach and two other pastors. The coach’s name was Stacie Seaman....
by Don Freeman | Dec 28, 2023 | Devotional
Think of birth announcements you’ve received. They read something like this: Timothy and Mackenzie are pleased to announce the arrival of Zander Boris, weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz., at 19 ½ inches long. Or maybe this: Ethan and Mallory are thrilled that Morgann Esther showed...
