by vfcadmin | Sep 24, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Stepping on Legos Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer Not long ago at our church Pastor David Montgomery was preaching on the salt and light verses in Matthew 5. Among his many other talents, Pastor Dave makes use of apt illustrations. In this case he was talking about...
by vfcadmin | Sep 17, 2025 | Year of Reflection
God Loves Righteousness Too Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer A friend and I were discussing the response of some people to the Old Testament accounts of the wrath of God. Her pastor preaches from the Old Testament, but some people “step outside” when he touches on such...
by vfcadmin | Sep 10, 2025 | Year of Reflection
The Gift of Simplicity Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer Some 250 years ago the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, a.k.a. The Shakers, settled in America. The sect was an offshoot of English Quakers founded by Ann Lee and known for their communal...
by vfcadmin | Sep 3, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Liberty in the Balance Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer In last week’s essay I made a somewhat arbitrary distinction between freedom and liberty so that we could look at personal freedom versus liberty within a community or government. The kind of freedom we have in...
by vfcadmin | Aug 27, 2025 | Year of Reflection
For This We Have Been Set Free Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer Last month, the United States celebrated the nation’s birthday on the 4th of July. Fireworks, cookouts, and band concerts are some favorite ways to enjoy the anniversary of our nation’s beginning....
by vfcadmin | Aug 20, 2025 | Year of Reflection
No TV from the White House for FDR Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer The new season of Masterpiece began to air on public television in June, including “Atlantic Crossing,” a new to me miniseries. It is a fictional account based on the true-to-life friendship between...
