It’s the holiday season, and you can guarantee it will have an impact on people’s health in several ways. The cold temperatures mean an increase in sniffling noses and coughs, while Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties with a ton of food mean an increase in pant sizes and gym memberships come January. But what about our spiritual health? Even …
Give Someone a Reason to be Thankful
I often find myself, when in a bad mood, using my many blessings as a means of upliftment. It’s hard to stay upset when you are thinking about all of the wonderful things God has given you, whether it be family, health, career, love, deliciously chocolatey desserts, etc. As we get ready to celebrate a holiday dedicated to such thinking …
The In Motion Volunteer Program
The benefits of volunteering are well-established. Studies show that senior citizens who volunteer generally live longer and have fewer health problems than those who do not. Senior volunteers often possess a greater feeling of well-being, a deeper sense of community, and a stronger perception of purpose. The “IN MOTION” program at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville, Illinois is for …
Buckle Up – A Zip Line Story
I recently went on vacation to Yellowstone National Park, where I got to experience my first Zip Line adventure. Although we have them at almost all of the Christian Retreat Network properties, as a fairly new office staff member, I had not been granted the opportunity to give it a try. However, I’ve been wanting to. So, I went online …
Jesus has Risen; Let us Celebrate!
Matthew 28 Jesus Has Risen: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like …
Spread the Love
A few weeks ago at church, one of the members came down to give the children’s sermon. He began by asking the kids to tell him what love was. The general response was about how their mommies and daddies love them. I thought it was a pretty good answer, but for some reason, it really stuck with me. So, I …
J.O.Y. in Life
During the holidays and looking forward to the coming new year, I sometimes find myself reflecting on the relationships in my life. Inevitably, we all have those people that drive us crazy and challenge our ability to maintain a Christian attitude and behavior. But also, we are blessed with those in our lives that are easy to love, care for …
It’s Easy to be Grateful…When You’re in the Right Circumstances
You know when it’s easy to be grateful? On Thanksgiving. You know why? Because we spend the whole day stuffing our faces and falling asleep watching football. And then to top it off, many of us schlep ourselves out of our recliners, strap on our coat and mittens, and head out on a retail bender that ends only when we have crossed …
Drop Your Stick
Do you ever have a message just ‘stick’ with you? (You’ll soon laugh at that play on words!) You randomly find yourself thinking about a particular saying, inspiring verse, or a message that has drawn you in? Yeah, me too. Most recently, it was at my worship dance fitness class. After our hour of fun and dance, the teacher talked …
Family Traditions… Start One!
With the fall season in full swing for most of the United States, it brings a lot of excitement to those of us who are ‘celebrators’. This feeling and participation in parties, food, gifts, bonfires, lights, decorations and family gatherings are widely observed by most. What I find most interesting are the unique ‘rituals’ that families honor – often started …