Feel the Sound
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13) Going to a Seattle Sounders match is an exhilarating experience. Even if you’re not much of a soccer fan, it’s hard not to be struck by the spectacle made by the vast majority of the fans. Throughout the 90 minutes of the match, there is constant cheering, singing, clapping, stomping, and waving scarves and banners. (In several sections, no one...
Read MoreOur Legacies
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) I have always admired my grandfather. Now approaching 102 years, he still seems lively as ever, always eager to share stories or have an engaging discussion about life and current events. Every time I visit him and look around his apartment, I am always taken with all the signs of a full life of accomplishment and inspiration that present themselves. Isidore Starr, or Iz, as most call him, taught law for over 50 years and is an authority...
Read MoreWalking In Freedom
“I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with your heads held high.” (Leviticus 26:13) Last month, I took the opportunity to participate in the Genesis Project’s Freedom Walk. In this annual event, volunteers aim to raise awareness of (and money toward) the project’s fight against human trafficking by going through one of the motions endured regularly by many of the underage prostitutes it seeks to rescue from the streets. They walk the very route along the Pacific Highway these girls are made to walk by their pimps to find business, starting in Tacoma and ending at the...
Read MoreOrdinary, But Not Normal
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) “Can’t you just be normal?” I’m sure we have all had to face some form of this question at various points in our lives. It may have come from someone else, or perhaps we were just talking to ourselves out of frustration. We are trying to fit in and act in a way that seems peculiar. Perhaps we are struggling mightily with a particular task or challenge, or learning something new. Or maybe our line of thought...
Read MoreReunion Time
“But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.” (Genesis 33:4) Next month I will attend my (gasp!) 20-year high school reunion. It will be interesting to see some old friends again for the first time in a decade or two, and “catch up” on where the paths of our lives have led us. Speaking in terms of my career and personal successes, I won’t have anything especially notable to share, other than marriage. Most of my former classmates are married and now have children, and through Facebook I know that many enjoy rewarding jobs and...
Read MoreLive… And Prosper
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) OK, I admit it: I’m a big Star Trek nut. I didn’t go so far as to take the program “Where No One Has Gone Before” when I was at Evergreen State (imagine classes using Star Trek as the base for cultural studies, psychology and neurobiology), but I have watched every series through, seen all the movies, have countless scenes and characters implanted in my memory, and even (briefly) got into the collectible card game. But...
Read MoreDefined By Impact
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) Last week, I watched the movie “The Vow” because I was intrigued by the premise, which was inspired by a true story: a recently married couple is in a serious car accident, and the wife loses much of her memory. The husband struggles to help her recover and rebuild their relationship without her remembering who he is. Without giving anything away, one phrase you hear several times in the narration of the movie is, “Moments of impact like this {the...
Read MorePrivilege and Responsibility
“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2) Nicole and I were ecstatic when the opportunity arose for us to get a dog this Christmas. We had wanted one for a long time, especially after one of our cats died last year. Holly, our new Scottish terrier, is an intelligent, energetic, most welcome addition to our household. But along with all the affection and adorable playfulness came significant changes to our daily...
Read MoreA Season of Opportunity
“Therefore, since we have opportunity ,let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10) Coming from an agnostic family, one of my greatest challenges has always been sensing the unseen potential good in my surroundings, and moreover, in myself. This was magnified by many less than ideal factors I faced in my everyday life: physical challenges, social awkwardness, financial struggles, criticism. I was raised in the mindset that I couldn’t believe with absolute confidence that things were a certain way without visible proof....
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