By Laura McDowell I love Lord of the Rings. It’s my absolute favorite movie series and the last film in the trilogy, Return of the King,...

By Laura McDowell Recently I had a dream about leopards. I know, weird right? In my dream, I was alone in a house and there was a large...

By Laura McDowell “ Surrender ”. As I sat observing a group for those recovering from substance use addiction, one individual used that...

By Ruth Apke Many different examples come to mind when you hear the word sacrifice. You might think of a sacrifice as what you think of...

By Nick McDowell It wasn’t the first time I had felt awkward in that setting.  Was I supposed to feel bad?  A part of me did, but a part...

By Laura McDowell Do you ever worry about the future? The unknown? What about your child's future? I do. I try not to because I know God...

By Nick McDowell Something just wasn’t feeling right.  It was frustrating.  My wife and I had just taken a visit to Dayton, Ohio to look...

By Nick McDowell & Gary Berger “I just believe it’s important to be open-minded.” It wasn’t the first time myself (Nick) or my wife had...

By Laura McDowell Do you ever struggle with feelings of inadequacy? I do. If you don’t, count yourself as very blessed because I’m...

By Nick McDowell At this time my town has already been participating in early voting for local representatives and state-wide issues for...

Know Thy Enemy; Destroy By Nick McDowell “We don’t negotiate with terrorists.” This was a statement that many attribute to being first...

By Nick McDowell Don’t be deceived. When I was around 8 or 9 years old there was a group of college students from a nearby university who...

by Nick McDowell “We’re leaving the church.” This is what my dad had just been told by a family over a change we were making. While I...

By: Nick McDowell It wasn’t the first time, but it sure felt painful… I had just been ‘dumped’ by a girl that I had been dating for a...

Know Thy Enemy; Distraction By Nick McDowell “Squirrel!” In the 2009 movie “Up” there was no character talked about more than the lovable...

By: Nick McDowell As the new year rolls along, many of us who may have made New Years’ resolutions might have already given up and moved...

By: Nick McDowell Christmas. It’s upon us once again. It’s crazy. It’s chaotic. It’s fun. It’s stressful. It’s full of laughter. ...

Personal Testimony by Kaylee King Growing up I was not a stranger to church. I remember going to Sunday school, singing the songs, doing...

By: Mae Parks Remember the Beanie Babies craze in the 90's? It seems bizarre that plush toys were seen as a worthwhile financial...

By: Sherry White I don't want to raise church kids. That's right. I DO NOT want to raise church kids. Matter of fact, it's one of my...