What’s Your Sign?

By Christina Puntigam 

While preparing for a mission trip to Africa, my group leader told me that the Christians will be recognizable by their clothing. He said that people wear who they are on their clothes. It kind of confused me, because my thoughts were that everyone was running around with those cleaver shirts that you see in the Christian bookstores. When I finally arrived in Africa, I understood what he meant.  The natives have material printed with scripture and images on them and then make their normal clothing from that material. I found out while I was there that each church orders a special fabric to represent their Easter and Christmas season and then they continue to wear their outfits throughout the year. The fabric was beautiful, something that I would have worn myself, even as an understated mid-westerner.

It all came back to me while I was reading the book of John. In the 3rd chapter, Jesus talks about the truth being a sign and a seal.  In the days of Jesus, it was common for the head of the household to have a seal that he would wear on his finger.  When conducting business, this seal would be a signature.  The scripture made me wonder how it is that I use God’s truth as a seal.  I thought back to Africa and the clothes that they wear to show God’s truth as their seal.  I remembered all the jewelry that has been given to me to mark special occasions, marriage, graduation, and completion of ministry.  I began to search for what my seal looked like now.

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Apples and Honey

One cool fall morning I was enjoying waffles with friends.  One of the guests to the party, Patty, came late but she brought a beautiful offering of apples and honey.  As a group of Christians, it didn’t make much sense to us the importance of this offering.  Patty had always been a little odd, but she explained that it was the beginning of the Jewish Year (Rosh Hashanah) and that apples and honey was a traditional meal of celebration for the day.  According to aish.com, the apple represents the love of the Israel people and the honey is for the sweetness desired in the New Year.  I must say that it was a tasty treat, something that still makes my mouth water to think about it.

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What are you building

Today I was looking at an ad on television that was advertising yet another scheme of how to live more comfortably at home and have more luxuries in life. As I was watching this I thought to myself, “Here we go again, another ad about money.” Money,…what is so great about it anyway…Really???

What ever happened to values in life when money was not all that important? When you see people sitting around sharing stories in their lives, the moments that touched them, will you hear, “I remember the time that I had a pedicure and I painted my nails…” or will you hear, “I remember when I went to the nail salon with my grandmother. I miss her. We used to have a fun time together.”

 

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The Blind Man Saw

Here he comes! Here he comes! Look, it’s him! He’s the one who gives life, for he is our ultimate healer! Everybody look and don’t try and stop me from speaking the truth! I know because I believe! I know he’s the one who can restore this darkness that has eclipsed my sight! Father, Father, I give you my all; cleanse me of my sins for only you can save me and make me whole!

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Joy Comes with the Morning

By Christina Puntigam

Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with a dermoid ovarian cyst.  It required surgery to have it removed and it turns out that it was the size of a small melon when they took it out.  I patiently and politely sat through six weeks of recovery.  I wasn’t allowed to pick up my daughter during that time, there was little if any house work that I could do.

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