ABOUT THIS BOOK

In a collection of separate, mostly unrelated essays written for his newspaper column over many years, Workman charms with his grace, comforts with his wisdom and makes us smile with his wit. Like his previous collections of inspirational columns, Open Windows and Fireflies in a Fruitjar, this is a book to be read and given as a gift to those we love.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

John S. Workman is an ordained minister in the North Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served as editor of the Arkansas Methodist, the official newspaper for the denomination in Arkansas, and was religion editor for the Arkansas Gazette and later a weekly columnist for that paper and then the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He has previously published two books: Fireflies in a Fruit Jar and Open Windows.

REVIEWS

"A splendid interpreter of the faith." —Richard B. Wilke, United Methodist Bishop, Arkansas "[This] is the kind of book for birthday presents, Christmas gifts and just because we want to share [Workman's] writings with those we love." —Bob Sells, Sells and Clark "[Travels in a Treehouse] captures the relationship between religion and everyday life; it is sprinkled with joy and humor; it is appealing to men and women in all walks of life." —Andrew J. McDonald, Bishop Emeritus Diocese of Little Rock

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Foreword

I. Of Daydreams and Journeys

1. After All, It Was Only a Tree House

2. Clouds from Both Sides

3. In Search of Life’s Meaning Aboard Starship

4. The Whole Truth About Freedom

5. This Man Actually Talks to His Bicycle

6. Egad! Pleasure and Romance, Too!

7. Of Magic Carpets and Escape Machines

II. Travel Companions

1. Unlonesome Dove

2. What This World Needs Is a Good Reunion

3. The Trouble with Harry and Other Joys

4. Right-Brained Man, Left-Brained Woman

5. Of the Man, the Van, and the Dog

6. “You’re a Pretty Girl and You’re All Mine”

7. I Think of Them Often, My Dolphins

III. Seasons

1. Turn Around and It’s August

2. Three Cheers for God!

3. Lessons from Jim the Missionary

4. The Wounded Bird: A Holy Week Parable

5. True Confessions of a Great Lover

6. Advent Waiting

7. The Perils and Joys of Spring

IV. Getting Ready to Ramble

1. Young Enough to Gallivant

2. First Aid Kit

3. Plan Ahead—Then Plan Ahead Again

4. A Place to Be Brave

5. Picky, Picky, Picky

6. Lifestyles of the Nutty Rich

7. An Offer You Can’t Refuse

V. Rules of the Road

1. Things It’s Okay to Forget

2. On Getting the Soup “Just Right”

3. Biggest Winner Has Doubts

4. Patio Picnic Prompts Practical Preaching

5. The Gods See Everywhere

6. “Yeah, But Was He Talking About Pecans?”

7. The Joys of Being Lost

VI. Passing Cypress Creek

Through the Valley of the Shadow

The First Week of January

Let the Good Times Roll

The Mountain and the Wind

Passing Cypress Creek Now

Gonna Take a Sentimental Journey

Celebrate the Temporary

The Mystery of Healing

The Miracle of Adventure and Fun

VII. Landfalls and Discoveries

1. When Robin Chicks Learn to Fly

2. A Yank in London Thinks of Home

3. On Living in a Large and Small World

4. The Eternal Search for the Perfect Hat

5. Of Carpenters, Kings, and Other Things

6. The Blessings of Storeroom Cleaning

7. Celebrating the Discovery of Fire

VIII. Road Hazards and Detours

1. Of Politics, Summer, and Religion

2. An Open Letter to Governor Bill Clinton

3. In Which God Grants an Interview

4. The Truth About Character Flaws

5. Of Doves and Geese and Ways to Peace

6. Kicking the War Habit

7. Another Spy in from the Cold

IX. Rest Stops

1. Random Thoughts While Garden Walking

2. On Watching Young Dogwoods Grow

3. The Joys and Pains of Being Different

4. Life Through a Rearview Mirror

5. This Confession Good for the Sole

6. Things Never to Say to a Violin Player

7. Life Lessons from Three Plucky Friends

X. Higher Ground

1. Religion: What’s It All About, Anyway?

2. Time for Some Jesus Stories

3. Religious Doubt: Foe or Friend?

4. Good News for Us Liars and Sinners

5. The Hunt for the Red-Hot Reverend

6. All Preachers Great and Small

7. Conversion and Murphy’s Shoe Law

XI. Other Journeys

1. On Planning Not to Sing in Tulsa

2. On the Chance to Do It All Over Again

3. When the Storms of Life Are Raging

4. Again Last Week

5. Nobody Lives Forever—Even Mothers

6. Of Magic Rocks and Other Things Lost

7. Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

XII. Up, Up, and Away Through the Valley of the Sun

1. A Good Breakfast Is Worth the Gamble

2. On the High Seas with The Ode to Joy!

3. Travels with Bill

4. The Great Arkansas River Valley Explosion of ’94

5. The Mild Bunch Rides Again

6. Fifty Years and Counting

7. Bone Dust

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