By Debra Torres
Several servants stood around the newly installed telephone at the Downton Abbey country estate staring.

“Do you now how it works?” William the footman asked the butler, Carson, after he came in to shoo them back to work.

“Will you show us?” Daisy, the kitchen maid asked excitedly.

It was the summer of 1914, and the telephone was already in London, so naturally Downton’s owner, the wealthy Earl of Grantham, felt it was necessary 

to add this bit of new technology to his house as well.

"But why would we ever want a telephone at Downton, my lord?" Carson asked Lord Grantham when he spoke about having one installed. There was an unmistakable edge of disbelief that resonated in his tone.

As you can probably tell, my family has just been introduced to the British period drama television series, “Downton Abbey,” and we’ve been having fun “catching up” with the world by watching its past seasons.

I’m learning that one of the prevailing themes in the season we are currently watching is “change.” Taking place at the dawn of WWI, the show reveals the differing perspectives on change through the eyes of both the rich and servant classes living in the Yorkshire country estate, Downton Abbey.

On a larger scale, the characters are impacted by the war and the changes it brings about in their society. And on a lighter side ...

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Who is God? God is steadfast. And it says in his word that he does not change. I'm glad that God doesn't change his mind on his love and commitment to us. Aren't you?

By Debra Torres
I was watching the instructional webinar on my computer when I heard the speaker mention church.

Hmmm, I thought and considered what this meant. 

This man was a leading spokesperson in his area of expertise, and I considered contacting him and having a little chat. 

I love connecting with Christian professionals. 
They show their true colors now and then in my field, and sometimes I can spot them by what they choose to say or write about. 

I remember discovering that a fellow copywriter was a Christian by seeing an image of a Bible in her “best reads” list on her blog. And recently, I connected with a prominent Canadian Christian after reading one of his emails where he included a small financial appeal for a mission trip.

I dream of one day writing for a large online Christian ministry, and you never know who has connections where. So I emailed the man from the webinar and introduced myself, telling him about my faith and asking him about his own.

When I read his reply message however, it was like I had been punched in the gut. 

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Who is God? We serve an all or nothing God. One that likes his children “stinging hot” in their loyalty to Him. The world wants us to think that there is more than one way to heaven, more than one way to living the righteous life. But God says he is jealous for us.
 

We walked into the hotel’s pool area and smelled the chlorine lingering in the air. 

It wasn’t a typical pool day, though. 

There were chairs lined up near the water, and our preacher was already hard at it explaining the purpose and benefits of baptism.

Several folks got up when he was nearly done and began to make their way over to the pool. These had all expressed a desire to be baptized, and I’m sure had been through a session with the pastor on the significance of their decision.

People of all ages were waiting by the edge of the pool when the crowd made its way over. Grandparents, young adults and even one little blonde-headed girl all wanted to be “dunked.”

I love watching people get baptized. It’s like witnessing a holy, heavenly event right in the confines of our earthly setting.  

“Woot woots!” came from the crowd as each church member went under and came back up to step into new life. Straining to hear what my pastor said to each one as they were immersed into the water, I finally made out these words ...

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Who is God? God loves us so much that He wants us washed of all the old "yuck" as we enter into new life with Him. Baptism is a wonderful, symbolic event. Have you been baptized yet?

By Debra Torres
It was a chilly day to grocery shop, but empty cupboards sent us out to brave the weather and fill our carts.

When we done, the real challenge came when we had to transfer all the groceries to our van in the cold.

But just when I thought we were finally finished, and I was looking forward to warming up in our vehicle, I uncovered something at the bottom of our cart that had been unnoticed at checkout.

A lone pork roast.

Ugh, the weather was so bad and for just a moment, I thought about ignoring the mistake and packing the roast into the van with the rest of the groceries. But ...

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Who is God? When we stand firm in obeying God, we please Him. And even though we may miss a temporary "prize," the blessings of God far outweigh anything the world can give us.