Sorted by date Results 51 - 73 of 73
As I start this column I am on day number 12 of 16 of a mission trip to Fort Simpson and Hay River and Fort Resolution in the North West Territories. I came with a contact from Gideons International and my wife, Angeline. We didn't have enough resources to bring our kids, so we are missing them. Our children are dwelling at home with their big sister, and we are dwelling with the Indigenous people in what ever way we can. We have put on services with singing and teaching from...
"Life isn't fair!" Tayanita, Young Beaver complained. "I work all day gnawing down trees and building dams while the other animals in the forest do nothing but eat and sleep. How I wish I had nothing to do but nibble on tender twigs and sleep in the warm sun." Young Beaver was convinced no one in the forest worked as hard as he did. From sun up to sun down and sometimes after dark, he gnawed down small trees and dragged them into the stream. He weaved them together, using his...
Known as one of the Five Moons, celebrated ballerina Marjorie Louise Tallchief (Osage descent) was the younger sister of acclaimed ballerina, Maria Tallchief. Marjorie was born in Denver, Colorado but grew up in Fairfax, Oklahoma, along with her siblings, including her brother, Gerald. The family moved to Los Angeles to further the girls' ballet training. There, Marjorie studied under Ernest Belcher, teacher and dance director, whose school of dance in 1942 was considered the...
"Stand on the red-painted feet," the officer ordered. "Don't smile. This is not Sears Portrait Studio." With my feet now on the red feet, I stood in front of a massive glass wall looking at a funny camera peeking through its side. It was still early. An already-stressed-out officer came to my cell door. "Torres, get your jumpsuit on. We are going to take you to get your picture taken." I quickly put on my shirt, socks, jumpsuit, and shoes. With a quick splash of water, I ran...
Lately I've realized all the people I knew when I was young have long since passed away. As a child, I had no idea these "old" people around me had lived rich, exciting, even dangerous and heroic lives. When I was with them they talked about their health or their gardens or what they had for lunch, and as a child, I didn't know that if I would ask the right question I could unlock a treasure chest of stories that only they could tell. When they died, their stories died with...
Winner, National and International Boxing Titles Model, CoverGirl Cosmetics Community Activist Mary Spencer, an Ojibway athlete originally from the Cape Croker First Nation began her boxing career at age 17. Although she was born in Wiarton, Ontario and lived there for a time, she also lived in Big Trout Lake, Owen Sound and Detroit before settling in Windsor, Ontario. She attended Roseville Public School where she played volleyball and soccer and was also a track and field...
The pressure was strong. His sales pitch was impressive and tempting, yet I kept declining. "Come on!" he was upping the ante, "I'll make it three and you choose the day." I hesitated because the offer was great, but in the end I declined it, too. Using the shower only happens three times a week in Ad Seg (the Hole). Although the showers are filthy, a full head-to-toes cleansing makes a big difference, both physically and emotionally. Plus, the shower is the only place we are...
Tears are real. They happen every day all around the world. Tears protect us from an infection and they lubricate our eyes. Humans are the only ones who can shed tears as a result of an emotion. Have you ever noticed that when you cry, you feel better? That's the miracle of tears! If we couldn't cry, we would emotionally explode. What does God say about tears? Tears are never for nothing and our suffering is never for nothing. The Bible says that God is near to those who cry...
My brother and I have never been particularly close, so when he showed up on my doorstep one evening, I was rather surprised. Automatically, I offered him a coke and a seat. He half-heartedly made small talk for a few moments. Then, he stumbled onto the real punch line, "Susan has left me." I was floored. They'd been married ten years. Both were Christians and active in a strong church-Susan was even a pastor's kid. I knew they had their tense moments, but I certainly never...
I saw the moving van parked in front of the house across the street and knew it wasn’t a good sign. Molly had lived in that house 50 years until she became ill and her family placed her in a nursing home. The moving van meant she wasn’t coming home. I walked across the street to talk to her son, Fred. We’d only met a couple of times, but he’d seemed like a nice person. I asked him how Molly was doing, and I already dreaded the answer. “Mom doesn’t have much time left,” he said...
Mediator between the U.S. military and the Apache Information about her is sketchy-including her date of birth and the specifics of her death-but Dahteste (ta-DOT-say) was a member of the Chiricahua Apache band. Dahteste fought with the warrior Geronimo when the Apaches warred against Mexico for having murdered Geronimo's family. She also fought against the United States for its encroachment and colonization of Apache ancestral lands. Dahteste was reputed to have been quite...
In March, I took a little drive to have a refreshing break. On a ten-hour trip, my truck began to act up. I kept losing power! It was quite concerning, and left me feeling helpless because I had no idea what was wrong! The only thing I knew to do was to pull over, stop the truck and wait a bit. Then I started it again and continued my trip. Thankfully, I reached my destination safely and was able to take the truck to a mechanic for help. As I reflect on the whole situation, I...
My emotions were in a tangle. I wasn't mad or agitated; but I was sad and happy at the same time. Waiting in Ad Seg (the Hole) to be transferred is nerve-wracking. An inmate in the Hole can wait up to five months-or more, in some special cases-to be put on a bus. Every day, we listen for our names to be announced from the weekly transfer list. Ears perk up and the air goes still as we all try to hear the officer making the announcement. We hear whoops of happiness and cheers...
Canadian news featured a story in February about a Domino's pizza delivery man. While he was in an elevator, taking an order of pizza for the purchasers' enjoyment, he apparently didn't realize video cameras were on. Surveillance caught him squatting on the floor, opening the box and helping himself to the toppings! As he reached his destination, he quickly shut the box, returned the pizza box to the thermos bag and moved on to deliver the pizza, as if all were well! Domino's...
Whenever we experience some sort of grief, loss or trauma our body, soul and spirit want to run and hide and try to cover the pain-or try to numb or forget the pain. Yet, when we look at our holy book called the Scriptures, we see men and women expressing their pain and hurt. Throughout the Holy Scriptures, that God gave to our spiritual ancestors and told us to pass along to our children, we hear stories of people like Job who lost everything within a short period of time eve...
Legends about Big Foot or Sasquatch have been around for hundreds of years. If you mention Big Foot, everyone immediately knows who or what you are talking about. Most people don't believe in leprechauns or fairies, but if you mention Big Foot, they don't seem as sure. If you ask people if they believe in mermaids they'll say no, if you ask them if they believe in Big Foot they'll say "Well, not exactly but if we had more proof, I suppose it is possible." I think we like the...
The eldest of five children, Alvina Begay was born on the Navajo Indian Reservation to Alvin and Wanda Begay in Ganado, Arizona. She learned responsibility early: while her mother worked full-time, Alvina cared for her younger siblings. She used what little "down time" she had running across dirt roads of the mesas and trails of Ganado. Her goal was to one day qualify for the Olympic trials. For a dream that grand, Alvina kept her mind, body and emotions in top condition....
The first time anyone ever served me water with a meal, I was in tenth grade and was eating with Judy N's family. I don't remember what we had for supper, but I do remember the water served in crystal glasses. I kept waiting for Judy's mom to bring out the sweet tea or to ask if anyone would like a glass of milk, but that never happened. Judy and I went to high school together in southeast Texas, but her family was from New York. I learned that day that folks do things...
Second Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) in God’s holy book tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Being challenged to change our behavior is difficult for all of us; especially for those of us who have a problem with any sort of authority. Whether it’s someone telling us how we can improve at work, or whether it is a f...
Once again we find ourselves in a new year! It’s amazing to think that we are living approximately 2018 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son! God’s Word contains several scriptures about new things that I have really enjoyed. I hope you do too: The Lord Jesus spoke of a new commandment in the book of John that we are to love one another even as He has loved us. What a commandment! Up until this time the law demanded a behavior system of people givi...
Every year I celebrate the Kickapoo New Year. It comes randomly on a different date every year so my family and friends never know when they'll get a call from me saying, "Happy New Year!" The Kickapoo New Year begins when you hear the first thunder in the Spring (usually in February), but only if the ground has thawed enough that you can stick your finger into it up to the first knuckle. If the ground hasn't thawed, you have to wait for the next thunder. In the old days, the...
Wise spiritual warriors, young and old, study the words given to us by Creator God. If you'd like to read all the way through the Bible this year, cut out this bookmark and keep it in your Bible, marking off the books you've read....
A knot formed in my stomach. I had nowhere to go, so I just turned around and faced the back of the cage. I knew he could see me, but I was too embarrassed to face him. Ad Seg (the Hole) is where the worst of the worst are sent. About 98% of the men that are in the Hole are here because they did something very bad. The Hole is the jail inside the prison. It's a true shame to be a resident of the Hole. It's a surprise to those who see me there, who know my character. Since the...
