Author: John Smith

By George Caruso In the Pixar movie Inside Out, there is a scene where a camera crew uses a “reality distortion filter” to turn a stage production into a convincing dream. That scene resonates with me, as it reminds me of my own filter that often distorts my vision in life. Knowing this, I try...

By Charlotte Gleason Growing up, I viewed the arrival of Christmas as an opportunity to fill my already full social calendar. My role as a pastor’s daughter assured me of several anticipated events: dinner invites served with Lancaster County hospitality, a guaranteed solo during the annual Christmas Eve service, and cash from relatives who no...

By Jane Highley No, I’m not talking about vampires today, even though many of them have been spotted going door-to-door for treats this past weekend. I’m referring to the fall blood drive this Friday, November 6, at our church. I am signed up and eager to give. Here are 2 reasons why I am giving:...

By Kim King I began attending Women’s Bible Study at New Life Dresher (NLD) in the fall of 2006 just as NLD was moving into the building we now call home. We were not attending NLD, but had visited once and filled out a visitors’ card, checking off the box for Women’s Bible Study. To...

By Dave Almack I don’t normally travel over 8,000 miles and 28 hours in the air to help with a book table. But this was no ordinary book table. I found myself in Chiang Mai, Thailand in August helping to staff a mega book table for an extraordinary organization. This organization is so unusual that...

“Muhammed’s family lived in a fanatical Islamic area. But after witnessing the oppression and violence carried out by fanatical Muslims, the family decided to look into the Christian faith. When militants destroyed their shop, robbing the family of an income, they turned to a (Christian worker) for help.” – Voice of the Martyrs This scenario...

By Larry Ackley When you think about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), what role do you play? Are you the Levite, a devoted churchgoer who is fearful about getting involved? Do you wish you were the Samaritan, selflessly ministering to the violently abused, dying victim? Tim Keller (Generous Justice) points out the twist Jesus put...

By Bob Hudson Community matters. I know from experience. I grew up going to public school, where faith wasn’t really a topic that anyone was dying to talk about. I didn’t have any Christian friends. Sure, I had plenty of friends who celebrated Christmas and Easter, and some who even attended church occasionally. But there...

A Testimony by Beth Anne Lesshafft, Children’s Ministry Assistant Director I grew up with two loving Christian parents. I made a profession of faith at the young age of 7 and spent most of my elementary and middle school years in Christian school. I loved the Lord, loved my family, loved my school, loved my...

A Reflection by Julianna Viss That was a good weekend! It was my first weekend as a Sr. High youth leader and I was very nervous about the teens accepting me since in high school I was so UN-popular lol. Of course, it wasn’t about being popular this time. It was about the teens accepting...

By Dan & Beth Curley Are you sometimes embarrassed or regret the things that come out of your mouth when talking to your spouse? We (Dan and Beth) both acknowledge that some of the things that we have said to each other over the years have not been said in love. A child psychologist once...

By Dawn Kantor (Dawn and her husband Michael have adopted 4 children internationally, all of whom were at different stages of life.) My mother had a magnet on her refrigerator that said: “Nothing in life can hold more joys or more tears, can make you more proud or more tired, or give back more rewards...