Author: John Smith

By Catherine Krasinski It’s amazing how many of us resonate with the idea of having to “survive” the holidays. There’s the financial strain, the craziness of Christmas shopping, the pressure to become a gourmet chef for a couple of days, the tension and arguments that can come with seeing relatives. And, if you’ve lost a...

By Julia Pearson As we enter into this sacred Advent season, my heart is so full of expectation. How desperately we need the delicate and miraculous baby Savior. We wonder at our Father’s planning, the warmth of His intimacy with humanity. We know He truly is God with us – with me! While we grasp...

By Tim Shaw One of Jesus’ names, Emmanuel, tells us “God is with us.” I believe this is true, but it’s so easy for me to live as if it were not. On good days, on bad days, and especially on those countless ordinary days, the reality of his presence often seems like a vague...

By Steve and Donna Daly Quietly and behind the scenes, every weekend at New Life there is a logistical marvel orchestrated by Dyan De Jong-Fischer – keeping the Food Cupboard up and running, providing nutritional support for both local brothers and sisters and for various charitable organizations in Philadelphia. It starts with generous food donations...

By Debbie Shope Sometimes my mind gets stuck. As you might imagine, this can often be quite unhelpful. Occasionally, though, it sticks on a word that I believe God wants me to consider deeply. In the last months, that word has been “glory”. (Lest you think the words are always so ‘inspired’, after reading a...

By Ward Shope This past summer, we remodeled our bathroom. The ubiquitous pink tile of the 1960’s standard bathroom wall – AND floor – was replaced by a white wainscoating, gray tile and bold green tint paint. Everything from closet to tub to toilet was redone. Out with the old; in with the new. Only...

By Jane Highley Yoga and Jesus were two words that rarely fell into the same sentence in my mind. And if they did, it was clearly a mistake or a joke. They were unequivocally and mutually exclusive from each other. Until a few years ago, that is, when I started incorporating yoga as a means...

By Todd Hill Just last month, I ran into a young, 20-something cashier at the local Subway. After a brief discussion, he told me that I was actually his P.E. teacher at a local summer school about 15 years ago. We reminisced about some of the activities we did in the class – me thinking...

By Lauren Standen On Sunday, October 30th, our family attended New Life’s annual community event, Trunk or Treat. We have been attending this since its first year, when my husband took our toddler and it was held inside due to rain. That toddler is now eight and ran around like she owned the place. It was...

By Melanie Kauffman On the morning of Monday, October 24th, I was sitting in the dentist chair trying to cope with the news that I would need a root canal. I don’t do well with dental work, so I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and trying not to break into tears. As many of...

By Rae Barnes This year, like so many others, I began it hoping to lose some weight. I made a plan, stuck with it and lost nearly thirty pounds. Sounds like a simple fitness and diet change, right? But what I learned is not that I needed a crazy diet or a quick fix; I learned...

By Ward Shope During a party today, a friend I had never met before sat down at the table where my wife, Debbie, and I were sitting. While actively engaged in another conversation, but still wanting to draw the circle a bit wider, we introduced ourselves. Generally I listen closely to the first name and...