Learning
Growth
Unity
What if We Could Return to Wonder
As I leashed up Cody’s dog, he’d stuff cookies into his pocket. On nice days, we’d walk a nearby trail before getting coffee to go with the cookies. Armed with hot beverages, we drove the country roads east of town – past faded red barns, clumps of sheep, and painted ponies.
Camping with Millennials
Recently, my wife, Robin, and I returned from camping in northwest Wyoming with our niece and her husband. They do not share our faith, but we had a wonderful time with them. Here's what I observed and learned…
Lessons from the PCT
The other day while driving home and passing through Sisters, I picked up three hitchhikers heading east. Two women and a man looking quite dusty and worn and at their feet squatted trail-weary backpacks. My guess was proved correct that the trio were PCT through-hikers taking a detour to Bend. They tossed gear in the bed of the pickup and piled into the cab, relieved. They needed a ride (and a shower!) and I got the gift of looking into a window on a world I know little of.
What if We Could Write History
What will you help God write in this current season of your life that will read like an interesting history book to the people following after you, that will inspire them to hunger for a well-lived story?
What We Can Learn from Latrines in Asia
Those ancient laws in the Old Testament were written for our learning. There is a Spiritual lesson to be learned. God is not as concerned with physical cleanliness as He is with Spiritual. Mark 7:14-15 & 18-23 make that very clear.
Growth, Not Change
In every part of life we find God. It is so tempting to think that Jesus only resides in my quiet time or prayer or church service, and leaves the rest for us to figure out, but he is in the midst of it all. Growth in and through those times stands as worthy targets.
Yesterday, Today, and Forever
What would I do if Jesus changed the essence of His character throughout the Bible? It would be utterly confusing.
What’s New at Foundry?
With autumn approaching, we are excited to share about some of the changes that are happening here at Foundry. Change can be difficult and scary, but also inspiring and invigorating.
Beer and Cigars, Oh My!
Numerous times the writers of Scripture challenge readers to fine tune personal behavior toward some version of "be holy as he is holy." While most Jesus followers will agree that our lives must appear more and more like Jesus in how we live and the choices we make, just how that looks differs by region and culture and time.
Random Thoughts from the Road
As I write this, Dan and I are driving uphill—headed toward 9660’ in elevation—somewhere in eastern Wyoming, winding past Meadowlark Lake and tall cliffs interspersed with evergreen forests and into Big Horn County. We just passed a sign indicating “Moose next 5 miles.” So naturally we’re watching for big horn sheep and moose.
The Grand Irony
I’m completely aware of the irony, sitting on a bench looking out upon the majestic Teton mountains in Wyoming, borrowing electromagnetic waves from the Colter Bay Lodge to send this article into the internet and back to you.
Dylan Was Right
In my book Bob Dylan is a master poet/songwriter; maybe the best of our era. Recently, Claudia and I attended a wedding where the father of the groom, who officiated the thing, used the lyrics from Forever Young as part of his message. It fit the couple perfectly and it rivaled the stunning vistas of a high lake and mountain backdrop for the wedding.
How My Church Loves and Serves Well
In light of bad church press, an online magazine I write for—Grit & Grace—suggested an article about what the church is doing right. Immediately I thought of Foundry.
What Will You Toss In?
As for Christ-followers today, some are free and living kingdom life here and now, others have yet to hear the news and are still in bondage, and tragically, some have heard but can't believe it is true and so continue to walk in fear as a slave.
Uncontrollable Jesus
We can no more control Jesus than we can control a raging storm. But a common deceit runs along the lines that if we behave just right and pray just so and posture correctly, Jesus is almost duty bound to give us what we desire. That desire may be for good things like safety or health or success and so he becomes our Divine Genie coming through on our behalf.
What Is It About Marriage?
Dan and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. … I’m learning Dan. And always will be. We have much in common, but we’re also two very different people.
Things I've Never Done in Bend (and How I Should Be Different)
I was down at Farewell Bend Park after church today practicing my two-handed Skagit casting for an upcoming Alaska fishing trip. It was the Fourth of July weekend, so casting space was at a premium. I felt that I needed to rent a rock in order to find some room.
Anyway, it got me thinking about some things I've never done in Bend or central Oregon. I'll keep the list fairly short:
Faucets and Drains
Watching TV a while ago and not paying much attention, I was brought back to the moment when I overheard, "Surround yourself with faucets, not drains."
That made me think of my normal circle of friends and workmates. I do enjoy plenty of faucet-folks and not many people who drain. The truth for a follower of Jesus is that we benefit from both in our lives. I'll get to that later…
The Oxford Comma and You
The Oxford Comma debate plops down as a worthy stand-in for many of our disagreements in life, politics, and faith.
(If you didn't see what I did there, you don't get the joke. My auto-correct wants to delete the final comma as Gmail is definitely in the anti-Oxford club.)
Don’t Miss Family Camp 2022…No, Really. Don’t.
We’re going to be talking about our legacy here at Foundry Church. From our humble beginnings back in 1904, to our present, and even projecting out into the future, it will be a time of reflection, prayer, planning, and dreaming, and we want all of you there!