"The Outcast Oracle" by Laury Egan is the story of Charlene Whitestone, the granddaughter of C.B. Whitestone, a country preacher and moonshiner who does not believe in God. When C.B. dies, Charlene is left to fend for herself until a stranger, Blake Cody, arrives and wants to expand her grandfather’s religion business and bill Charlene as an oracle.

This fall my baby girl went to first grade. It was a big change for her, but probably an even bigger one for me, because for the first time in 10 years (my oldest is 10 years old), I did not have a child at home to care for during the majority of the day.

The 12th anniversary of 9/11 is upon us and our country is on the brink of taking military action against Syria. It makes me wonder if the powers that be (Obama, Kerry, Congress) ever think about responding to evil in the world without using violence.

In the spring, my small group bible study completed a DVD study called “Jesus, Bombs & Ice Cream.”