2026 Lent: Journey of Transformation

Verse of the Day “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16   I grew up in Port Vue, Pennsylvania, in a close-knit community where neighbors cared for one another. I remember walking two miles to school with other kids, and sometimes stopping at a little store if we had a few pennies. Life was simple, but it shaped me.   Faith was part of my life from the beginning. I went to Sunday school at a small Methodist church on a hill. My father played piano, and my mother served in the kitchen. At home, I learned that faith is not just spoken—it is lived through service.   As I grew older, the world changed. I remember the Korean War, and the tragic losses of leaders like President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert Kennedy, and the students at Kent State. In those moments, my faith deepened. I began to see that faith is not only belief—it is action. It is standing for what is right ...

Verse of the Day “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God” – John 3:1-2   I have always been a seeker. Even as a child, I tested things—once tipping over a baby carriage just to see what would happen. I watched closely, learned deeply, and carried that curiosity into life.   I grew up in a home shaped by books, observation, and steady rhythms. My father taught me to pay attention. My mother filled my world with reading. On the farm, I learned responsibility—feeding chickens, checking the spring, watching life unfold. I explored creeks with my dog, always wondering what was around the next bend.   College stretched me. Physical chemistry and calculus were hard. I learned my limits. I learned to try again. That same persistence carried me into medicine, where I found joy in ...

  Verse of the Day “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” — Psalm 92:14   I am now in my later years, and I see life a little differently. I still carry many memories—growing up on a small farm, working hard with my hands, and loving anything with wheels. Life kept moving, and so did I.   But what I see most clearly now is not just the motion, but the meaning. There were seasons of deep challenge. I went through a painful divorce. I lost trust in the church after being judged and after someone harmed my family. For a long time, I stayed away. Then came health struggles—two strokes at once. I lost strength on my left side and had to learn, slowly, how to move again.   But I did not stop. Step by step, I kept going. With therapy, determination, and grace, I found my footing again. I still walk with a limp, but I walk. And I am grateful.   In time, I also found my way back to faith. In a new church, I experienced warmth, joy, and w...

Verse of the Day “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5–6   I was born into a hardworking family. From an early age, I learned integrity, diligence, and perseverance. I believed life was simple: work hard, make a living, and everything would be fine. But over time, I realized something was missing. Life is more than work and possessions—it is about relationships, faith, and purpose.   In 1966, I met Cynthia. By 1968, we were married. Looking back, I see that our marriage has been strong because we kept God at the center. We don’t always agree, but we learned not to go to bed angry. We keep working at love.   For years, my life revolved around family and work. I was active in church, but something still felt incomplete. Then, in February 1975, at a “Weekend to Remember” in Madawaska, everything changed. I felt out of place at first. But one night, t...

  Verse of the Day “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)   I remember my first steps into the world—walking to school as a kindergartener, holding my mother’s hand on a crisp autumn morning. I felt both wonder and fear. Life stretched wide before me.   As the years passed, I came to see how fragile life can be. I still remember the day President John F. Kennedy was shot. I was in a department store when I heard the news. I ran through the store, crying out in disbelief. Watching it later on television, I wept. It was a moment that marked me—a reminder that life is precious.   I grew up during the Cold War, a time of uncertainty and quiet fear. We practiced drills in school, not fully understanding, yet deeply aware that the world was not always safe. Still, life moved forward. There was love, family, and joy even in uncertain times.   One of the greatest blessings of my life was traveling to Israel. Wal...

Verse of the Day “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live your lives in him .” — Colossians 2:6 New day. New beginning. New hope. That is my story. I was born and raised in Massachusetts. On the outside, life looked fine. Inside our home, it was very different. My father was strict. Fear filled the house. By age six, I had my first drink. By twelve, I was using drugs. By fourteen, I was in a gang. I was not living—I was escaping. In school, I learned prayers, but I did not know God. I stole, lied, and numbed my pain. Later, I joined the Air Force, hoping for a new start. But addiction followed me. Rehab, relapse, and brokenness became my pattern. Somehow, I stayed sober for many years—but without God at the center. Then loss came. My mother passed. I relapsed. I married late in life, but addiction took everything from us. My husband died suddenly. I was crushed, angry at God, and ready to give up. Years later, I came to Maine. I was alone, staying in a motel, holding...

Verse of the Day “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)   I was blessed with a happy childhood. My family was close, full of love, laughter, and time together. My grandmother, especially, shaped my life. She always reminded us, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” She showed me how to look for the good in others—and that stayed with me.   My faith began when I was eleven, going to the altar at a Baptist church. Years later, I was baptized as an adult, outdoors near the mountains—a moment I still hold close.   Life, though, was not always easy. I married young, at sixteen, and that marriage lasted 26 years. It was difficult, and divorce was one of the hardest decisions I ever made. I carried guilt for a long time. But over time, I came to believe that God gives second chances—and He gave me one.   Meeting Andy changed everything. We built a life rooted in faith, h...