From the “High Tech” and “On High” Ways to Know If the Biblical “Narrator” is “Reliable”

Posted on January 22, 2019 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

“Reliable (Biblical) Narrator?”

As a literature teacher who is also a Christian, I can tell you that the Bible is a spiritually cohesive anthology of various literary genres crafted according to legal, historical, wisdom, poetry, gospel, epistolary, prophetic, and apocalyptic writing traditions.

By cohesive I mean each genre, though different in format and content, unites with the others according to a spiritual theme based on the Judeo/Christian heritage. Continue reading →

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On the Continued, Intensified, Effort to Destroy the U.S. Constitution via “Reflexive Law”

Posted on January 17, 2019 by

Since I published the post below, back in September 2016, on so-called “Reflexive Law,” aka the effort to sell the idea that our Constitution is a “living document,” that is, can be changed via the social and political norms du jour, one hears of this effort–and its sales pitch–more and more, particularly now that we have new self-touted “Socialist Democrats” in power in Washington D.C. who unabashedly claim the Socialist title and who arguably lead the effort to trash the United States Constitution as is. Continue reading →

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On the Poetry of God’s Pleasure…and of His Love

Posted on January 11, 2019 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

In a “Christianity and Literature: Truth and Story” class I’m taking at a local college, the focus the other night was poetry. One-third of the Old Testament is in that genre, said our instructor, who is a local pastor and the educator and was in charge of this first class of the college’s winter term “community outreach series”. Continue reading →

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“On What He Said Today” Series, #3–Proverbs 16:7 and “Frenemies”

Posted on January 6, 2019 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to                                                                 make peace with them.                                                          Proverbs 16:7, NIV

One rendering of this verse, from “Pulpit Commentary,” reads: “Experience proves that nothing succeeds like success. Where a man is prosperous and things go well with him, even ill-wishers are content to…dissemble their dislike, and to live at peace with him.”

This Scripture passage cites only one manifestation, however, of the results of the out working of the life of Christ in a believer, a life that as he or she follows the guidance of the “owner’s manual,” aka the Bible, he/she will prosper not only spiritually but in other ways as well. Continue reading →

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A 3 Part Spiritual Survival Guide for 2019 Featuring “The Law of Holes”; “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose”; and “Tight Focus and Mindful Efforts”

Posted on January 2, 2019 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

I’m not one to make “New Year’s resolutions,” which I realize is a kind of resolution in itself, but this year seems different. If ever there were a time to, ah, break my resolution to not make resolutions, it’s 2019. Continue reading →

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Christmas-Themed, Redux # 5–“Mrs. Brown, Rhubarb Pie, and Christmas Gifts…”

Posted on December 21, 2018 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila From December, 2017 and prior

This might be my all time favorite Christmas post, thus its repeated appearance. It embodies a bit of family nostalgia by way of an engaging and humorous anecdote from the life of one of my younger brothers, Doug, aged 5 at the time, as well as a peek at Americana ca 1950s.   Continue reading →

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Christmas-Themed, Redux # 4–“Good Cops, Gifts, and Big Hearts”

Posted on December 15, 2018 by

 

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila from December 15, 2014

andy's holiday treeMy sister and I and my teen-aged niece had the joy of helping out at a local, annual, “Shop with a Cop” event.

About a dozen or so police men and women and some helpers took a number of area youngsters on a foray for Christmas presents at a local store, then went to the town’s City Hall for food and gift wrapping.

It was big fun for the kids who got to ride in a “police car parade” on the way to and from the store, sirens blaring and lights flashing on the big, black and white cruisers. Continue reading →

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Christmas-Themed, Redux # 3–“A Mid-Winter’s Tale from Alaska…”

Posted on December 11, 2018 by

From Dec. 8th 2012

Note: my sister, who worked for several years as a sexton in an Episcopal church in Fairbanks, Alaska, recalls her ”up close and personal”  with one of the state’s  (large) famed animals.  It was an event that gave her a new understanding of various aspects of the local culture and environment, such as “village time,” “Chinook winds,” the Alaskan version of “road kill,” and “flavor”.  It was an event she knew she would, in time, remember with its humorous elements, too. In the midst of the flurry of your mid-winter, mid-holiday-season activities, we hope you take a moment to enjoy.  Continue reading →

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Christmas-Themed, Redux # 2–“Every Hallmark Christmas Movie…” Last Year’s Post and This Year’s Message

Posted on December 5, 2018 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

In my Christmas-themed redux series, my next favorite post is from last year. With inspiration and help from my brother Andy, who started us off on this fun topic (predictable, stock Hallmark Christmas movie plots and variations thereof), came, below, the light-hearted look at the films I’m sure by now have hooked millions of viewers–and sold a lot of Christmas cards, books, DVDs.ornaments, and other movie-related merchandise. Continue reading →

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“On What He Said Today” Series, #2–Proverbs 26:2

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
                              an undeserved curse does not come to rest.                                          Proverbs 26:2, NIV

In the world this day where people plot continuously in the halls of hatred and violence, prayerfully apply Proverbs 2:26 as you feel so led. Keep in mind also the following verses for encouragement and support: Continue reading →

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