For five weeks this summer, I had the privilege of supervising the work of two IOKDS Learn & Discern interns virtually. Seeing my role as a facilitator of learning for both our organization and the interns, I assisted the interns in focusing their time and effort on projects that help our organization move forward with…
DetailsWhen I first retired from the Air Force and settled back home to my house on the lake, I signed up for the weekly subscription of the Boonville Herald newspaper to get back in touch with what’s happening in the local communities around me. The Boonville Herald newspaper is only published once a week, but…
DetailsI am truly honored to share my thoughts and reflections with you today, Patriot’s Day. It is crucial to remember the tragic events that happened on September 11, 2001, but more importantly, to learn from that fateful day. Every year, I try to focus on a theme. This year my article comes from the title…
DetailsI love books of all kinds. Like many of you, I read quickly and am always on the hunt for new reads. With our local libraries COVID-closed, I have downloaded library e-books, ordered paperbacks from Amazon, and searched my cupboards and closets for overlooked books. However, I have a “rule” whenever I purchase books for…
DetailsThis is our new normal in many aspects of our personal and organizational lives. So how is our 134-year old organization that embraces tradition more easily than change going to survive during this COVID year ahead? And if the pandemic continues into 2022, will we find ourselves in a default position of too late to…
DetailsI think Chicken Little and I have something in common – at least we do on the days when the news from around the world is relentlessly bad. On those days, it does feel like the sky is falling. I think about the many who have lost employment, who are struggling to pay rent and…
DetailsThe first time I heard Father Greg Boyle preach at Chautauqua, I knew I was in the presence of someone who “walked the talk”, a man whose life was devoted to offering opportunities for a better life to Los Angeles gang members. He always brought a few former gang members with him who also told…
DetailsWith the continuing COVID restrictions many of my days have taken on a kind of sameness. My daily routine includes gardening, cooking, cleaning, babysitting grandkids, exercising and the rest that comes with being at home. It is easy to fall into the rut of routine and its accompanying feeling of little satisfaction. Two weeks ago…
Details“Forces Unseen: What Shapes Our Daily Life” is one of the Chautauqua Institution’s 2020 lecture week themes. In thinking about this question, we might all immediately respond, saying the novel viral pandemic is one of the most significant forces shaping our lives in history. It is hard to imagine how something so minute in size…
DetailsWhat does the Learn & Discern summer internship really do? From my perspective as a supervisor of two communication interns, it provides encouraging empowerment to young adults in their personal, spiritual and career development. How does this happen? The foundation for growth is a trusted relationship between IOKDS and the intern with a meaningful commitment…
DetailsI love flowers, don’t you? Come Spring, my favorite activity is planting colorful flowers in my yard. As summer progresses, the flowers grow, multiply and turn their sweet faces up to God. Daily I gift my pretties with showers of cool water. They seem to dance with glee at the refreshing drink. Summer, this year,…
DetailsWritten by Jared Couch Jared is our Learn & Discern Brand Marketing intern. He is going into his senior year of school at Houghton College in western New York, where he is double majoring in Integrated Marketing and Business Administration. As a part of his role this summer, he will be writing a series of…
DetailsWritten by Jared Couch Jared is our Learn & Discern Brand Marketing intern. He is going into his senior year of school at Houghton College in western New York, where he is double majoring in Integrated Marketing and Business Administration. As a part of his role this summer he will be writing a series of…
DetailsWritten by Jared Couch Jared is our Learn & Discern Brand Marketing intern. He is going into his senior year of school at Houghton College in western New York, where he is double majoring in Integrated Marketing and Business Administration. As a part of his role this summer, he will be writing a series of…
DetailsWatching birds outside my window is a favorite pasttime. Birds of every color and size joyfully engage in the smorgasborg of seed that is provided for them. They eat the feast harmoniously and come and go at will. Recently, a new species of birds joined the gathering. These birds are loud, voracious eaters and are…
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