: About Me

My name is Joy E. Cressler. I'm happily unmarried.

I live in Alma, Ark.

I've been a journalist since 1994.

Email is joycressler@journalist.com

My passion is ...

Creative writing - making that phrase or sentence come together perfectly.

I know too much about ...

The pain in life. No one told me it was going to be this hard. Where do I protest?

My parents always told me ...

You'll grow up and have kids just like you. Only one of my children is somewhat like me. The others are all completely new creations.

My childhood ambition ...

Write, write, write.

My favorite memory ...

Anything I remember these days is a favorite.

Why I write ...

Because I love the written word.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Nothing. I'm freelancing and I just sent off a killer story. The house is quiet.

My first job ...

Hoeing beans at age 15 in Dove Creek, Colorado.

My best moment ...

Getting propositioned for a more prestigious job while my two current bosses were plying me to stay with them.

My inspiration ...

All aspects of life. A seventh grade English teacher. My children.

Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Reflections on those who fall asleep in church

1 of 4

There are four kinds of people who fall asleep in church. One of them doesn't wake up. The other three we will call Sermon Sleepers. Falling asleep in church is as old of a malady as not applying the preacher's message. But how parishioners attempt to veil their exhaustion during services makes for some humorous comparisons. Let me take you to the First Baptist Church in Mulberry, Arkansas, the largest of several congregations in the small city of about 1,400 people. The church, built in 1890, is constructed of dark red bricks laid perfectly one on top another by volunteer Christian masons...

More..

• Helium Charter Member