Church and the Forgotten Factor
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And sustain me with a willing spirit.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,And sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:12-13 NASB Since I settled down and started a family some 50 years ago, I have either been a church attender or member. I did this not because it’s what you should do as a Christian, but because I wanted to. I needed the infusion of the Holy Spirit every Sunday in order to stay spiritually fit. However, there came a time about 20 years ago when this commitment waned. I was going to a small Lutheran Church in Idaho and watched...
Read MoreHopeless in Seattle
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB I play a sport called pickleball, which, by the way, for the few of you who don’t play it, is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. It originated on Bainbridge Island in the late 1930s. When I came home from playing today my wife said, “Well, how’d you do?” I answered, “Oh, I could have done better.” “Why are you always so negative?” she responded, “After all you haven’t played for over a month.” I had to agree as I’ve heard her...
Read MoreMy one small step to peace-making
God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 The 9/11 terrorist attack was still fresh in people’s minds, an open wound that was reluctant to heal. People perceived to be Arab, and certainly Muslim women wearing hijabs, were the targets of all kinds of verbal abuse and sometimes physical. A Somali-American acquaintance of mine recalls having garbage thrown at her and her family as the attackers shouted, “Go back to Saudi Arabia!” An American friend, a Microsoft executive who is originally from Africa and a Muslim, tells of being held for hours at...
Read MoreWhat Gives Your Life Meaning
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NASB What gives your life meaning or motivates you? That was a question on a questionnaire sent to me by a new doctor with whom I was scheduled for an appointment. Usually, they want to know what meds I’m taking and my level of pain on a scale of 1 to 10. At first, I was kind of taken aback by the question coming from a doc who is not a psychiatrist. I could have responded ”to play a better game of pickleball”. But, knowing it was a serious...
Read MoreThou Shalt Not Be A Jerk
(This is the first in a series of reflections on books read by the Creekside Book Club) In Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk by Rev. Eugene Cho, Pastor Cho asks the following rather tongue-in-cheek question. Does the following describe a good Christian – one who goes to church, serves in the church, does his/her devotionals daily, attends Bible study, and doesn’t ask too many questions? Pastor Cho doesn’t answer this question, but my guess is no, or at least not quite. He writes: The Kingdom of God isn’t merely about a ticket to heaven or reducing sin to a personal issue while we neglect what...
Read More9/11 and ‘The Other’
“You may have heard the law that says, ‘love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?” (Matthew 5:43-46). Twenty years ago, America had an enemy. The terrible events of September 11, 2001 did more than take down two landmark buildings in New York City—it shook Americans to the core. An attack...
Read MoreThe Blast of the Trumpet
In the Old Testament, trumpets and other instruments, such as animal horns, were used for various reasons: to signal movement, in war, to call the Israelites to assemble, and to mark festivals (Julie Schwab in Our Daily Bread). In the New Testament, Jesus also refers to a mighty blast of the trumpet gathering his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth (Matthew 24:31). Did you hear the blast? I did, on January 6th. It was a blast calling all Christians to arms: putting on God’s armor of truth and righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the...
Read MoreWho is my god?
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) The Bible is rife with stories of God challenging the Israelites for worshiping other gods, even to the point of punishing them. Last spring, as Covid lodged itself firmly into the fabric our daily lives, I realized that I had a god. Even at my advanced age, I love to be active—especially playing my favorite sport, pickleball, and having a round of golf periodically. But that came to a screeching halt when it became clear that I was high-risk. At least, I reasoned, I could watch Mariners...
Read MoreGod Don’t Make No Robots
Have you ever thought of something, then shortly afterwards, it appears in the newspaper or on TV? It happened to me this morning. I was thinking about the anxious times we live in, mainly the hate and vitriol between people on the left and right and the fact that God made all types of humans with different skills, temperament, and priorities in life. Minutes later I opened my Bible to the reading of the day. It was Romans 12, in which Paul writes about all having different gifts—prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, showing mercy, and leading (Romans 12:3-8). In other words,...
Read MoreImagine
I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die far, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace. You, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us and the world will be as one. (Yoko Ono and John Lennon) OR Imagine there’s no parties, it isn’t hard to do. No red or blue to follow, to push what’s right for you. Imagine all the people living life in peace, No, no labels right or left, just what’s best for everyone Walking the ways of Jesus and all will have...
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