by vfcadmin | Nov 14, 2025 | Year of Reflection
The Coming of Joy (3rd Sunday of Advent) Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer The third theme of Advent is joy. One of the definitions of joy is “a person or thing that causes happiness.”[1] The prophet Isaiah would agree, tying together the person of the Promised King and a...
by vfcadmin | Nov 12, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Loving Ourselves in Humility Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer Back in reflection seventeen I wrote about visiting my parent’s graves on Memorial Day in “Nothing Says ‘I Love You’ Like….” I quoted Jesus in His answer concerning the greatest commandment and His commentary...
by vfcadmin | Nov 5, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Whom Do You Admire? Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer We all need heroes, people we can point to and say, “I want to be like that.” While there are many exceptional people in the church now and throughout history, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish which person is worthy...
by vfcadmin | Oct 29, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Characteristics of Love Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer Over the last few months, a recurring theme in my reading and thinking has been love, specifically the love of God, agape in Greek. One of my favorite C. S. Lewis books is The Four Loves. Based on a series of radio...
by vfcadmin | Oct 22, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Fear, Stress, and Hope Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer On August 25, 2025, we had an active shooter alert on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. Although the situation proved to be a hoax with no one injured and no gunman found, the impact of this event...
by vfcadmin | Oct 15, 2025 | Year of Reflection
Preaching is More than Words Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer I have had a courtside view of the church in action for the last couple of years as a dear friend, her family, and their church came alongside a number of low-income residents in an apartment complex in...
