I know you’re thinking this is probably going to be a rehash of C. S. Lewis’ brilliant book on the apologetic “problem of pain” — i.e., if God is love, and God is all-powerful, why does sin and pain exist? But no. I long ago realized that as much as I love my favorite author,… Continue reading The Problem of Pain
At our church we are currently undergoing a “pastoral transition.” That’s a rather pleasant-sounding way to describe a lot of work and emotional trauma. My close friend, our senior pastor of 25 years, resigned in early 2019 and took up a new career (for which he is well-suited) as a chaplain. Subsequent to that, our… Continue reading Turning from the past and toward the present and future
I sometimes think about the story of the Good Samaritan and wonder about the back story that isn’t told about this individual. How did he become the way he was? (In that he was inclined to take a risk and stop and help the man beaten by muggers and left for dead on the side… Continue reading Brokenhearted
Okay, okay, I know. I have only blogged here twice in the past six months! There’s a reason for that. In my first “Ch-ch-ch-changes” post, last October, I shared my journey with World Vision, and how I had re-joined for a third round, this time with our international office (Global Communications team). I was given… Continue reading Ch-ch-ch-changes! Part 2
I usually devote this blog space to aspects of my life story which demonstrate the power of transformation. But I’m going to do something slightly different today. Dr. Tom Mercer came to be a youth pastor at my home church (as a teen — Foothill Baptist Church in Upland, California) about the time I left… Continue reading Precision-Guided Munitions
Well, of course this blog is all about change. And let me start by telling you I’ve had a love-hate relationship with change. I’m guessing that I probably “enjoy” change more than most people, partly because of my personality (I get bored rather easily). But also because I’ve discovered that, as I’ve discussed elsewhere in… Continue reading Ch-ch-ch-changes!
I promised in my last post that I would write more about my wonderful, 22-year experience with World Vision. But first, lest I get too chronologically out of order, I’d like to dish some dirt on our two amazing children, Nathan and Amanda. One thing that always amazes me about our kids is how their… Continue reading A word (or two) about our quiver full of children
I remember one day (about 10 years ago) Darlene telling me she thought I had ADD. She would know: Not only is she my wife, who probably knows me better than anyone save God Himself, but she is also a school nurse, and believe me when I tell you she sees LOTS of kids with… Continue reading Grabbing Hold of God and Not Letting Go
I’m going to continue with my (hopefully brief) departure from my life story, by sharing about something that’s been happening in the here and now. A month ago or so, I received a summons from the Pierce County court system, my fourth in 20 years, to report for jury duty. I reported to the courthouse… Continue reading The Justice System at Work
In worship at Elim last weekend, Pastor Martin Schlomer shared a compelling message from John 2 of Christ’s consuming passion for both the symbolic and manifest presence of God in our midst. For the Jews of His day, that symbolic presence was the Temple. Christ’s passion for this powerful symbol of God’s presence in the… Continue reading Salt, Light, and Uber Mushrooms
