JONATHAN C DOW

Chirping and Tweeting

I am very grateful for a work schedule that allows me to linger at the kitchen table in the mornings. This quiet time is filled with reading, writing, and more moments than I care to admit of mindlessly scrolling through social media. The soundtrack to my morning is filled with the peaceful sounds of nature and the occasional rustle of . . .

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November 18, 2017

Forget This Network

Recently the IT department where I serve added an additional wireless network, creating both a “Guest” network and an “Employee” network. However, once this dual Wi-Fi environment went online, we discovered a problem. Our guest's electronic devices automatically try to connect to the “Employee” . . .

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October 07, 2017

When What You Do is No Longer Who You Are

You Are More Than Your Byline

Not too long ago I was reminded of one of my favorite Veggie Tales, “Madame Blueberry.” Having watched the video countless times over the years (yes, my children were present), I easily recalled Madame Blueberry’s lament, “I’m so blue, I don’t know what to do.” Believing that “happiness waits at . . .

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September 05, 2017

Grace to Grieve with Hope

Discovering God's Grace in the Midst of Loss

Not too long ago, I had the distinct privilege of being interviewed by the extraordinary Rev. John Arnold. Battling cancer and living beyond what he calls his "Expiration Date," John selflessly recorded conversations desiring to "encourage people going through the difficult experience of a terminal medical diagnosis or the loss of a loved . . .

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August 29, 2017

Just Because You Can...

Doesn't Mean You Should

One of the intersections I pass through every day is at the foot of an interstate off-ramp. Because of the duration of the light pattern, drivers tend to pull out their cell phones, put on their makeup, fix their hair, dust off their dashboard, and even clean the inside of their windshield when the light turns red.

One morning, while . . .

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July 15, 2017

Go Ahead, 'Bother' the Teacher

A Not-So-Tongue-in-Cheek Invitation

“Don’t bother the teacher any longer.” That was the rebuke that derailed my focus from the sermon one recent Sunday morning. Abandoning the preacher's train of thought (sorry, pastor), I lingered in that Luke 8 passage, trying to understand the context for such a harsh statement.  

Jesus, returning to the shore . . .

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June 05, 2017

Three Minute Miracle... or Maybe Not

On a recent stroll through the aisles of a discount department store, I came across a large endcap displaying a product called “3 Minute Miracle.” I chuckled, admiring the ample supply of divine favor in shiny-golden tubes at never-before-seen prices.

Further reflection, however, brought an unexpected weightiness as I thought . . .

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May 25, 2017

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