When I was a student in the Little Room at Penn Johns School, our teacher, Miss Birk, would occasionally make us write about what we had done the past weekend and she would then compile our stories into a printed hand-stapled newsletter called "Weekend Happening". This blogpost is a little like that. Just a few stories about how my winter has been going. Mostly I've been extra busy with my new position at work, but I enjoy having some projects going on the side. Creating a Church … [Read more...] about Winter Happenings
Faith
A Day in Queens
"It's not a good idea to go up to people and ask, 'Are you homeless?'" It's mid-Saturday morning at the Ministry Training Center (MTC) in Elmhurst, a neighborhood in Queens, NYC. About two dozen Lancastrians have just gotten off the bus in the Big Apple and are getting a crash course in local demographics and street ministry. "There's about ninety thousand people per square mile here in Elmhurst. Most of them are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Many of them don't speak English." … [Read more...] about A Day in Queens
A Brighter Springtime
I remember clearly what I did on Easter 2020: I went biking alone. No church, no family dinner, no socializing. Of course, that's how the season was for most everyone. Stay home and slow the spread. I was fortunate to keep my job, but everything else pretty much halted. For good or for ill, that was spring 2020. So while I have been seriously neglecting Penny Letters in the last few months, it's because of happier days! I took a Saturday job answering phones at a mulch business, church … [Read more...] about A Brighter Springtime
Things I’ve Learned Along the Way
My birthday is this week, and I'm turning thirty-four. Even if birthdays aren't as thrilling as they once were, I thought I'd make a list of things I've gained along the way. No one remains forever young, and even if we don't like everything we see in the mirror and realize that some of our dreams might not come true, we should rejoice in the blessings we gain as we get older. One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes (about another Susan) is from the book The Last Battle: “I wish she would grow … [Read more...] about Things I’ve Learned Along the Way
Book Review of “Another Gospel?” by Alisa Childers
Is the Gospel as taught by the apostles just as true today, or does Christianity need an update? This is the question addressed by a book released this month, titled Another Gospel?, written by Alisa Childers. The subtitle reads, "A lifelong Christian seeks truth in response to progressive Christianity." I first learned about Alisa Childers when I listened to her speak on The One Minute Apologist Podcast. I enjoyed listening to her and decided I would buy her book as soon as it became … [Read more...] about Book Review of “Another Gospel?” by Alisa Childers