a prophetic voice-

River Run Fun Festival is in full swing in Winston-Salem, Triad, but it's not too late to get tickets to many promising films. So far, we've seen three- two documentaries and a narrative, and have given them scores of five, three, and four. Oh, just to explain, at each showing, the audience a is given a rating tab and asked to score their reaction to the film on a one to five scale, one being basically "I hated it" to five being  "Loved it, would recommend it." Not bad, I think, for early in our film-watching odyssey of thirteen films over nine days. This celebration of new and innovative films is a must-see for all film buffs in the area, in my opinion. To learn more, go to the River Run website (www.riverrunfilm.com )and then go, go, go to sister city, Winston-Salem, for a memorable experience. Kuddos, too, to UNCSA for their wonderful, energetic, totally fun presentation of "Guys and Dolls" at the Stevens Center. If you have neve

How can anyone possibly not believe in resurrection, in new life, with everything bursting into bloom here in North Carolina? My drive to church has presented an ever- changing panorama of color over the past few weeks, a delight to the eyes...a special joy when my both my spirit and flesh are tired and in need of rejuvenation. And it astounds me just how quickly it has happened. Not so very long ago, the trees lining Highway 52 were bare, presenting their naked arms to the sky- beautifully stark  but truly barren to the eye. And then- pow! Leaf buds showing red and green...then unfolding into leaves of every variety...redbuds and forsythia painting the landscape with delicate hues of yellow and pale purple. And just this week, clouds and crowds of dogwoods seemingly emerging out of nowhere, filling the woodlands with their bridal-wreath white blossoms, dancing with joy in the April breezes. All around my neighborhood, flocks of azaleas are bedecking  yards with their s

Don't ask me why I'm so worn out today, so emotionally and physically drained on this Easter Monday. I just am. Guess if I'm going to be kind, generous, and loving to myself, I'll acknowledge that the past week has been...well, challenging, to say the least. Not just the spiritually demanding nature of the worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, both of which I truly love, but both of which exact a deep toll from me. Not just the Saturday morning confirmation class with four kids I truly love. Not just the Easter worship, with its demanding proclamation...yes, demanding, since those sitting in the pews have heard it so often that it is a preaching challenge to not sound like a broken record. Each and all of these required hours of preparation, and as much as I enjoy preparation, those efforts truly sapped me of energy. But this Holy Week there was the additional emotional burden...well, not burden, exactly, but a heavy weight of responsibility, to be