The Power of Stillness to Refresh and Transform

Ah, the joys of automated technology and its misinterpretations! It never fails to surprise us with its unintentional comedy. The other day, I received a call on the automated announcement line from our beloved home church in South Carolina. Unfortunately, I missed the ring, and it went straight to voicemail. When I checked the message later, I laughed out loud. The visual voicemail system decided to have a little fun and mixed up "choir practice" with "quiet practice." Oh, the wonders of technology!

Dana Rongione 06/07/2023 Dana Rongione 06/07/2023

Hungering for Peace

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of peas. Unfortunately, they are a staple here in Wales, as they are all over Great Britain. Yes, the main food groups in Wales are meat, potatoes, and peas. I'm fine with the first two, but I could do without the latter, especially when served in their "mushy" form. Yuck!

Why is it that peace often seems like a distant dream or fateful mishap, like a plateful of peas, when we were hoping for something more appetizing? Let's take a quick look at some of the reasons why peace can feel so elusive.

Dana Rongione 25/01/2023 Dana Rongione 25/01/2023

Chasing Peas

Remember the vegetable soup I told you about the other day? Well, it turns out, after smelling the soup cooking all day, our precious pup, Tess, decided she wanted to partake of it as well. She paced around the kitchen, staring at the crockpot and sniffing the air.

Being the softie I am, I scooped out a spoonful of soup and set it aside to cool. Once it was cooled down, I poured it over a scoop of dry food into her bowl.

Dana Rongione 23/09/2022 Dana Rongione 23/09/2022

Resting in the Word of the King

The situation was dire. Resistance seemed futile. Hope was hanging by a thread. Yet, in the midst of what appeared to be complete destruction, the people rested themselves in the words of the king. On the eve of battle, Hezekiah gave a compelling speech, reminding the people who was fighting with them and for them. Sure, Sennacherib had a big army and a bully attitude, but Judah had God on their side. And with that reassurance, the people stopped shaking in their boots and found peace in the situation.