I suppose it was five or six years ago when Terry returned from his annual physical and told me his PSA test was slightly elevated. The PSA, of course, is the blood test that measures the possible enlargement of the prostate and then the possibility of prostate cancer. But tests are just tests and the…
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Age and change
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 7 Comments
Grandma was 70 years old when I was born. I don’t know if she and Grandpa made the 500-mile trip from their house to ours on such an auspicious occasion. I do know that they did make that drive occasionally. More often, however, and too often it seemed to me, Mom and Dad would pile…
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Black & white
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 6 Comments
Mom used to take me with her to see what is generally categorized in the Midwest as community concert series. In my hometown, the performances were usually held in a rather magnificent old theatre, The Missouri. I remember going there for concerts and for movies. Thick carpets and sweeping staircases to the balcony. I loved…
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The trumpet legacy
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 11 Comments
When my husband Terry played his trumpet for the two Easter worship services in our church this past Sunday, he played “The Holy City.” It’s an old standard and it does have words but few people know them because not only has the music kind of faded into history, it has usually been played instrumentally…
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On Wisconsin!
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 9 Comments
As a child, I remember with deep affection the church where I grew up in Missouri. And although I was too young to clearly remember his face today, I did know of the tremendous influence of a pastor who served that congregation for over 50 years. In those days of the last years of his…
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Forgiving and forgetting
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 11 Comments
Years ago I found myself in a Bible study group. I didn’t want to be there and I could have just said no, but that’s for another post. Suffice it to say that as much as I disliked the experience, my participation there was yet another impetus for me to listen to God’s call to…
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The difference between bawdy and offensive
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 8 Comments
I am not easily offended. I used to be, but I’ve grown a pretty thick skin over the years, sometimes, I think, to my own detriment. We don’t want to become so thick-skinned that we are oblivious to the needs and concerns of others. A thicker skin comes not only from being the object of…
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A spring in my step
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 10 Comments
Despite what the ground hog predicted (and apparently, there are many ground hogs around the country who are into meteorology), it is feeling a lot like spring in southern Wisconsin this week. Any time it gets in the neighborhood of 50 degrees, I think about getting out my walking shoes and resuming that which the…
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Hollerin’ for Jesus
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 6 Comments
I know that my Jewish readers find the word “evangelism” a loathsome one. It is not in the traditions of Judaism to proselytize. Well, bear with me on this because it’s not in the wheelhouse of most mainstream Christians either and we also find the idea repulsive. So just sit back and read. I assure…
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Someone will notice
by Gretchen Lord Anderson • • 7 Comments
For those of us who purport to be of a Christian persuasion, we find ourselves in the time of year called Lent. Those are the six weeks leading up to Easter. Some Christians actively observe Lent. Others don’t even know it exists. Regardless, one of the traditional teachings of Lent is that we are supposed…