Category Archives: Culture

Key, Pa!

In the dialect of Ari, my three-year old grandson, “Key” is “Thank you.” I have no idea why, but Ari’s gratitude is often expressed with a sweet, “Key, Pa!” How much quiet joy his “Key, Pa!” gives me has been … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Fathers and Sons, On Faith | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

He, However

These first two words of Luke 8:54 have been echoing in my heart and challenging my mind for several weeks. These words come at the end of the story of Jairus and his sick 12-year-old daughter—his only child. Jairus was … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rhizomatic Faith

I fell in love with milkweeds in Kansas City. About a dozen species can be found in the fields and ditches. The bright orange of the butterfly-weed flashed like a neon light in a sea of prairie, but my delight … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, nature, On Faith | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

I Don’t Know What to Do

“Where’s doggy?” Ari asked again with the persistence of a three-year old. He had gone with us to the vet when we took Mira to be euthanized. Too filled with my own grief and choking on my tears, I had … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, nature | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rain, Seeds, and Prayer

You see the rain differently when you have seeds in the ground. The springs rains here in Myrtle Point are different than those in the Midwest. Here the rains can last all day, sometimes for several days. Lumpy gray clouds … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lauren Daigle, Mushroom-pickers, and Church as Staging Area

Recently I was listening to Lauren Daigle’s song “Rescue” on the radio (K-Light). As can happen with radio, her beautiful song was juxtaposed with news of the ongoing search for a lost mushroom picker. On the southern coast of Oregon, … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Anxiety and the Disciplines of Grace

Should a believer who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks medicate or meditate? I don’t know. I know those for whom medication has worked well and those who never feel quite themselves on medication. There is also the danger that … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Follow Jesus and Offend the Left and the Right

Those who follow Jesus faithfully and strive to live biblically can offend those on the political left and right by proclaiming the following: Left: that God promises prosperity to those who walk in his ways, Right: that Jesus told his … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Light in the Forest

Since I was a kid, I have camped in the woods along the central coast of Oregon. Nights and mornings were cool, so on the days we stayed in our campsite, we spent a lot time moving our chairs from … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, nature | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Blind-spots

I have come the closest to killing myself and others through failing to check my blind-spot before changing lanes. The older I get, the more convinced I am that checking our biblical blind-spots is crucial. I still like to spend … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, On Faith | Tagged , , | Leave a comment