DAILY AFFIRMATIONSWhen I was young, I watched a comedy show that had a part called “Daily Affirmations by Stuart Smalley.”  It would show a young man looking into a mirror saying “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and people like me.”  It was meant to be a comedy, and often it was very funny.  Part of what made it humorous was that almost all of us would never be so prideful to praise ourselves as...  Read More

Coffee Anyone?A new Starbucks recently opened here in Morton.  Today there are over 34,000 Starbucks cafés around the world.  Would you believe it’s a story that almost never happened?  Howard Schultz, the founder, was rejected by over 200 banks when he went looking for his first business loan.  Imagine if he gave up after the 199th try.  Something deep inside pushed him to persevere!The Bible tel...  Read More

2 Corinthians 5:17  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!”The Tale of Three Trees.An olive tree, oak tree, and pine tree each had a dream of becoming something special in life.The olive tree dreamed of becoming a finely crafted treasure chest to hold gold, silver, and precious jewels.  One day a woodsman came and chose the olive tree out...  Read More

Reaching New HeightsEcclesiastes 4:9-10  “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”This time of year, it’s not uncommon to see Canadian Geese flying overhead.They are migrating thousands of miles south for the winter.  If one tried to fly alone, they could never m...  Read More

Pick a Pumpkin!The annual pumpkin festival is here again!  Some love all the pumpkin pies or the pumpkin-flavored coffee and donuts, others love the parade and most all kids love the carnival rides and games.Thanks to Libby’s plant, Morton is known as ‘The Pumpkin Capital of the World.’  It produces over 85 percent of the world’s canned pumpkin market.Though the pumpkins that Libby may pick for ca...  Read More

Give GraceIn Genesis 32 we read the story of how Jacob was alone and unexpectedly wrestled with God all night long.  Jacob would not quit wrestling until God had blessed him.  God did bless Jacob and even gave him the new name of Israel.  Jacob was a changed man! The reason Jacob was alone was because he had sent his men with gifts to give to his brother Esau.  Twenty years had passed since the br...  Read More