Learning
Growth
Unity
Ambushed in the Morning
So, there I was, sitting in my reading chair early in the morning, tending to my knitting. My bible was open to Luke 6, cruising along, and suddenly I got ambushed by Jesus' words from the Message translation.
Why are you so polite with me, always saying "Yes, sir," and "That's right, sir," but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
Saying “Yes” When Life Takes a Left Turn
Dan put away the snowblower, we positioned the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit, and I arranged matching cushions. It was 78 degrees. We were expecting guests. And it was spring.
During this change-of-season ritual, I commented to Dan, “You know this means it will snow again, right?”
Exiles, Aliens, and Citizens
Despite having lived in Bend for the past 15 years, I honestly don't feel at home here. Of course, I value the friendships I've made and the experiences I've enjoyed here in central Oregon. But somehow it just doesn't feel like home.
Calling Down Fire
Elijah was a “bad dude.” If you were a king and a contemporary of Elijah, you had better watch out. Case in point, 2 Kings 1, where Elijah called down fire on groups of 51 men not once, but twice, in order for King Ahaziah (of Israel) to learn who was boss.
Merry Christmas! (Is This Too Late?)
No, this is not late. I don't have the date wrong, nor am I confused about the season. I know it is the Easter season. But Christmas and Easter are so intertwined, so interdependent, that it's impossible to have one without the other.
What a Weekend…
On a recent weekend I joined with about a dozen older adults who served 21 younger adults up at Suttle Lake Camp. The reason to give up a perfectly good Thursday evening to Sunday noon was to introduce these high school seniors to the next chapter of their lives. The weekend is the brainchild of a faithful couple who, 22 years ago, saw there were holes in their own kids' and their friends' readiness for life as adults, so Life 101 was born.
What Would It Look Like to Slow Your Pace?
Dan and I filled our hydration packs with water, made sandwiches on sourdough bread, tossed in tangerines and trail mix, and grabbed layers of outer wear. It had been too long since we’d hiked in the wilderness.
Wisdom from Moses and…Yogi
Yogi Berra, born and raised in the Italian Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, and famously played baseball for the Yankees, gave us much to be thankful for. Aside from his remarkable play as both a gifted catcher (he threw right) and a creative hitter (he batted left), he may be best remembered for his "Yogi-isms", malapropisms that twisted words and yet made so much screwy sense. Below are a few of my favorites.
Are There Chaff Sifters in your Life?
In the family photo taken at our wedding, seven of our kids and grands come from a different location on the planet. Dan’s daughter was adopted from Korea. She married a man whose parents immigrated from Thailand. Dan’s son married a first-generation Persian woman. My son chose a Hispanic bride. And my daughter and her husband adopted three boys from Uganda.
We are an American family.
Resurrection Day!
Springtime brings flowers, warmer weather, new life, and a fresh feel to the air. It is interesting that God chose this time of year to bring about the greatest event in all of history.
Wounded Healers
Newsflash: We all fail.
Sure, we know that, but we can become quite skilled at hiding our faults and stuffing our weaknesses to the point of living a life that is somewhat false. Folks can grow to resemble a movie set where a whole scene looks good from the camera but is only a façade. That can be a lonely and tenuous life as that person dreads being found out.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus..."
The song brings back fond and very specific memories.
As a young boy, probably in second or third grade, my parents would manage Ferrier Point Bible camp, situated on the far west tip of Nootka Island that lies to the west of Vancouver Island.
Can God Really Do That?
Together, Dan and I have nine grandchildren—a toddler, two out of high school, and six kids in the middle.
My new daughter-in-law, Azla, sent a photo of The Middles taken at our wedding. All six of them are sitting at a picnic table wearing smiles that range from impish to goofy. They had only met the day before.
Keeping the Passover
In a few weeks I’ll be hosting a Seder dinner at my house for the ladies in the Hebrews Bible Study. We’ll be in chapter 11 “by faith Moses kept the Passover.” This will be my second time hosting a Seder.
Unlock All the Doors
If you compare your life to a house, you may have invited Jesus in, but each of us keeps one or more rooms locked and the key hidden so Jesus can't get in to straighten up. In these rooms we hide our secret pleasures that we know Jesus would disapprove of. Maybe it's
I’m Not the Good Guy
Something about my personality makes me want to be one of the good guys. When I was a kid, I cheered for the Lone Ranger and He-Man. I liked the honor and respect they got from others, and I like it when people respect me. It used to be easy to win that respect by being polite, working hard and doing the right thing. I’m finding those tricks don’t work as frequently as they used to.
Chapel In The Pines
For almost 32 years a tiny church in Camp Sherman has shown me and my family what a simple gathering of Jesus followers can accomplish so long as no one cares who gets the credit. Every few weeks I serve there as part of a speaking team, and I never fail to learn some new things every time I visit.
3 Things I Learned While Mending Fences
Back when Dan asked me to be his bride, COVID-19 was still the top story in the news. Our method of sheltering in place consisted of exploring the Cascade trails in our hiking boots and snowshoes. And getting some outdoor projects done around his place.
One of the tasks on our to-do list was mending a pole fence. Fifty new poles. And that was just the front yard.
Old Friends and Long Roads
When a group of old guys who have known each other since college gather, it doesn't take much for them to slip back into familiar rhythms. Each winter for over 40 years, close after Christmas, I have gotten together with a group of chuckleheads whom I treasure. We all were friends at OSU in the '70s and we have hitched our wagons to Jesus, and committed to keep in contact with one another. When we gather we eat, retell old adventures, have played some bad poker, dog each other (if you have a thin skin this isn't the group for you), then settle in to share stories of the past year.
My Worst Trait as a Pastor
If you're reading this, you may already know that I served as a pastor for most of my adult life. I continue receiving speaking opportunities even now for which I'm grateful. I feel gifted and called to be a pastor.
Unfortunately, everyone brings their weaknesses and character faults into any occupation or vocation, myself included.