Serve by Design

I recently participated in a three-day training event for Illinois State Police chaplains. It is a privilege to serve alongside thirty volunteer chaplains throughout the state. We serve the commanders, troopers, and public as needed for support, ceremonial functions, and during emergency crises. While we train online quarterly, we have not been able to meet in-person since the Pandemic. This return to normal is what made this gathering a little more special! Bedding Perfection! This event was an important time of team building, classroom discussion, CPR recertification, and touring by van to the various ISP facilities that included central command downtown, the training academy near Chatham and the Pawnee shooting range where we saw a demonstration of the elite K9’s and their trainers in action, and also a demo of the precision driving required to navigate the Emergency Vehicle Operation’s course. We also toured the cadet barracks at the academy and observed their regimented para-mil...

Have you ever been “gifted” with a very ripe banana? I used to wilt (another related pun idea!) when during my college days, my pastor and future father-in-law, would reach up to the top of his refrigerator and offer me an undesirable banana that had been languishing for days. I wanted him to like me for several reasons. So, when he’d say, “Here Mike, take this home with you!” What was I to say? I’d tuck the little booger in my pocket and say with an insincere mumble, “Sure. Thanks.” Ripening Bananas! freepikcom I’m a little cautious about eating anything labeled as a “genetically modified organism” or GMO for short. But a recent article about what some British scientists are doing with bananas has caught my attention. Now I’m thinking, “Maybe?!” I love bananas on my breakfast cereal, but like many of us, I have trouble managing the basket of bananas before they become so ripe that the only alternative is to make banana bread or pancakes. And I’d rather not add more carbs to my diet! ...