Category Archives: Culture

Stratification and Scarification

Last fall I gathered some seeds of white wild indigo (Baptisia bracteate). I live in the suburbs with beautiful trees and acres of lawn—but with almost no native plants. The HOA doesn’t allow anything but lawn but does all the … Continue reading

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The Four Elements of Joy: Earth

At first, or perhaps any glance, I am not the right person to write about joy. In the last five years my oldest son has died, Teckla and I both battled cancer, and Teckla has been diagnosed with dementia. Added … Continue reading

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A Lonely Church Kid Blues

I feel alone. I have been reading all the stuff online by ex-evangelicals who are “deconstructing” their faith in favor of a faith less traumatic, legalistic, shaming, silencing, and controlling: a more affirming faith—or in some cases, no faith at … Continue reading

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Sunday Morning Light and the Sweet Rhythms of Church Kid Life

Here in Kansas we are snowed-in after a day and half of flurries, but now sunlight slides across the snow. All is bright and white. Teckla and I have been sitting on the couch looking out the window at the … Continue reading

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The Explosive Truth about Contemporary Worship

Many of those exiting the evangelical tradition for liturgical churches list dissatisfaction with worship as a main reason. I have friends that have found a home among Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox worshippers. I have read some cutting criticisms of contemporary … Continue reading

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Life is a River, Not a Road

We figured three hours would be long enough to canoe from Myrtle Point to Coquille which was only nine miles by Highway 42. The plan was Aaron and his two boys plus my four boys would fill the bottom of … Continue reading

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Framed

Once again God has hemmed me in with limitations. Until this last year my life had if not fewer, at least different limitations. In Oregon, I had job with what  seemed like unlimited contact with people. Each term there were … Continue reading

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Kirby’s Gift

I don’t remember how Kirby and I became friends in 2nd grade in Miss Brook’s class. Kirby was a tall and lanky kid; I was short and quick. Somehow we discovered we loved playing outdoors together. In those days fear … Continue reading

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For a Long Time

This is our second autumn in Kansas. We have a wonderful assortment of oak, ash, and maple trees whose leaves flash every color from purple to scarlet. Yesterday we saw a bright red oak catching the setting sun in its … Continue reading

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A Violent Halloween Meditation

Huge monsters, ghouls, and skeletons crowd the yard of a neighbor a few blocks away. Some are 10—15 feet tall. Zombie and skeletal babies crawl across the lawn between the plastic skeletons of dogs. If prizes were given for Halloween … Continue reading

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