Three Strikes and God’s Beautiful Way

Three Strikes and God’s Beautiful Way

‘Three strikes and you’re out’ is a phrase for baseball players and criminals in several states. But it can also refer to failing to get your dream job. Let me explain. Jojo Villa loves basketball. He grew up in the Philippines and played on the high school and...
Discovering the Web of Life

Discovering the Web of Life

Have you walked into a spider web without seeing it? Arms flail to extricate themselves with the many strands of the web covering the face. This has been one of the scariest experiences for me. It’s unexpected. It’s shocking. On the other hand, discovering the web of...
What’s the Fun of Playing an Easy Team?

What’s the Fun of Playing an Easy Team?

Football season has begun for all age groups. Do you follow a football team? What is your favorite team? My two favorite teams are the ones two grandsons are members of in York, Maine. One of the boys suffered an arm bruise in the season’s first game and missed...
When Does Heroism Begin?

When Does Heroism Begin?

When does heroism begin? In the case of my great, great uncle, the seeds of his heroism began a few days after he boarded a ship in New York City bound for England. This leg was the first of a long journey to the island nation of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.  A Modest...
A New Missionary Biography: A Modest But Crucial Hero

A New Missionary Biography: A Modest But Crucial Hero

I have written a missionary biography of my great-great-uncle, the Reverend George E. Stone. His oldest brother, Frederick Stone, was my great-grandfather (d. 1921). Their other two brothers, Ernest and Harry, died in 1968 and 1970, respectively. I met them in the...