The year 2001 is the Year of the Books, and January was National Book Month. The year 2001 is also the Year of the Child, and the month of February, Heart Month, is also National Children's month. Children can come up with pearls of wisdom that simply seem so amazing. I will share with you the wisdom of children who were asked by a teacher to write advice to their parents on how to raise children.
Episode 287: Fulfilling Forgotten Dreams →
Among the many Christmas epistles received during the Christmas season was a letter from a dear old friend in Ohio. Olga has been a real inspiration to me. For many years, she has been a lifelong learner and a pioneer in the work of missions and ministry. Her letter arrived on the 12th day of December, as she had a busy Christmas season. She was born on December 24 and last year, celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Eve. I am really looking forward to her next letter filled with her many exciting experiences. She is living every minute of the rest of her life and enjoying the learning process.
Episode 286: Life at 90 →
The following column appeared on January 29th, 1998. It was a favorite column among the readers, and maybe again, for those who are celebrating birthdays this month.
Episode 285: Have Courage →
Have you made New Year's resolutions? A recent study informed us that many who make New Year's resolution have already broken them after two weeks. Some people do make it to Valentine's Day. In my collection of thoughts on the new year, I found an article that appeared in a Nebraska newspaper on January 2nd, 1914. As we read these thoughts, can we see ourselves applying it in our lives? 85 years later in the year 1999 the last year in this century?
Episode 284: Epiphany →
In one of the Christmas epistles I received during the holiday season, I was reminded that there now is Bethlehem Star TV as Trinity Broadcasting Network has a station in Bethlehem. The antenna is atop the Church of the Nativity. Isn't this exciting to know this is happening in this century? This network reaches all over Israel and even into Saudi Arabia, and in the future, will reach out to the world.
Episode 283: Thanks from the Heart →
As I write these lines on Veterans Day, a time of remembrance, many warm thoughts come to mind. I can also remember past Veterans Day when we experience a blizzard, as we had yesterday. On this Veterans Day, I would like to share these prayerful thoughts with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column as together, we pay tribute to all those who served their beloved country.
Episode 282: Years of Happiness →
November. Can it really be November already? It seems, the year has its last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow. We have had some very beautiful autumn days this year...days for travel. No, I did not travel to Florida for that historic launch into space, but I did manage the trip to Nebraska, and while there, attended a 50th wedding anniversary of dear friends who live in Seward Nebraska, that Fourth of July City. It was so special to be able to share at that "Golden Celebration" a poem I wrote, and so I will share the poem with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column.
Episode 281: Holiday Letters →
The holidays are approaching so fast. Already, I am receiving those holiday letters, as I have a few friends who write their holiday letter about family in October. It seems that many people in this high-tech age no longer write those personal letters.
Episode 278: Grandma & Grandpa →
A recent article I read states that the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1999 as the "International Year of Older Persons." The theme will be "towards a society of all ages." This theme was chosen to promote the philosophy that societies should be inclusive in nature, should embrace all population groups, and share their resources equally.
Episode 277: Pearls of Wisdom →
The doors to the school of learning are now open throughout the country and homework assignments seem to fill our schedules. In my many files of thoughts, I found pearls of wisdom for students taken from creating a positive learning environment by Marly Ann Dahl. These pearls of wisdom can be shared for all lifelong learners.
Episode 276: Life & Learning →
Surprise! The Warm Thoughts column two weeks ago, on, "I've Learned," was favorably received by readers. It also brought me a four page email letter on more "I've learned." So here's a sequel to the first column:
Episode 275: Love & Logic →
September brings us Grandparents Day. Recently, I read some thoughts from, "Grandparents with Love and Logic," by Foster W Klein and Jim Fay. These thoughts are worth sharing about grandparenting in today's world.
Episode 268: What Our Flag Represents →
When you read this column, it will be only a few days before Flag Day. I have often wondered if "Old Glory" could tell her story, just what she might tell us. Recently, I read some warm thoughts, which I'd like to share with you, my dear readers of this column. "Some people call me 'Old Glory.' Others refer to me as the 'Star Spangled Banner,' or the 'Stars and stripes.' But whatever they call me, I am your flag. I remember some time ago, people lined up on both sides of the street to watch a parade, and naturally, I was leading every parade proudly waving in the breeze. What happened? I am still the same old flag, but now I don't feel as proud as I used to be when I come down your street. You just stand there with your hands in your pockets. Then I see the children running around and shouting, is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have people forgotten what I stand for and where I've been?"
Episode 264: A Letter from A Mother →
When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart, and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator, and so I share it with my readers.
Episode 262: Easter Reflection & Prayer →
As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I'm overwhelmed with many warm thoughts and memories. Memories of the place where all the events of Holy Week took place are so real and meaningful to me. Many times I relived that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, "the way of sorrows" when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We all are pilgrims.
Episode 261: The Power of Prayer →
When many of you read this column, it will be National Day of Prayer, and large and small groups throughout our nation will be praying for the future of our world. In America, these groups are found in homes, churches, offices, factories, schools and in state and national capitals. These groups believe that positive prayer is power, and that behind all leaders of church and state, there must be prayer.
Episode 257: World Day of Prayer →
Each year on the first Friday of the month of March, World Day of Prayer is held throughout the world. Women of every nation, creed and color, gather together in a place of worship to offer their prayers in word and song. They offer their prayers for peace and reconciliation and have become God's ambassadors and prayer warriors to the world. World Day of Prayer has touched the hearts of many throughout the world.
Episode 250: Fresh Dreams for the New Year →
This is the first Warm Thoughts column for 1998. An unknown author once wrote this New Year's thought, "What the new year will bring us depends a great deal on what we bring into the new year." Among the many Christmas greeting cards received were many warm thoughts: A Prayer for Peace. "Dear Lord, let this be a year that moves us one step closer to each other. Let this be a year that brings us understanding in our hearts. Let this be a year that fills us with a yearning, burning, feeling for peace with one another and a oneness, Lord, with you."
Episode 248: Singing in the Shepherd Hills →
Every year now, as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day approaches, my memories take me to the little town of Bethlehem. How special it was to be able to worship in a cave on the shepherd hills in Bethlehem, the night I worshiped in a cave on those Shepherd hills will long remain in my memories. We traveled the winding roads of those hills with Abraham as the driver of the bus called "the guiding star," and Elijah and Gabriel guided the driver as we sang those beautiful Christmas carols. It seems that the angels in heaven were helping us to sing on those Shepherd hills.
Episode 243: Golden Anniversary →
November. Can it really be November? Already, it seems, the year has it's last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow.