Imagine
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...
read moreTime to Celebrate
A few weeks ago, I heard something about the Sabbath. Isn’t that profound? I cannot remember what it was, but I distinctly remember thinking, “next time I’m up for the FYI, I’m going to write about that.” So, here we are. At that time, I believe I was thinking about how desperate we all are for true Sabbath right now and how difficult it is to truly participate in one. With so many of us working from home, boundaries have gotten blurred more than ever. Our co-workers know we see their text messages. They know we are just at home, because...
read moreFollow the Plucky Widow
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” (Luke...
read moreFall Beginnings
In the beginning God created the havens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NIV) Spring is commonly associated with new beginnings, but I would argue that fall should be, too. It marks a new school year. It marks the beginning of the colder months. The tastes of fall with their warm spiced flavors are a prelude to the holiday festivities and feasts. Creekside has even historically done fall kick-offs for our church...
read moreHow to Make a Difference
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:8-9 NIV) I used to be less like a news junkie and more like a news ostrich, hiding and hoping no one would see me. Then along came Facebook, and later Twitter. I find myself reading a lot more about news and politics than I used to because I want to know what my friends are reading. But now, the more I read, the more I feel angry at injustice and helpless to change anything. Why does...
read moreNo More Hugs ’Til Christmas
There is a time for every event under heaven… A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. (Ecclesiastes 3:1b, 5b NASB) We spent a glorious week with our daughter, her husband, and their young boys in a rented house on Whidbey Island for the last week of summer. Unfettered by social distancing, we devoted ourselves to play, with plenty of jostling, wrestling, bumping, snuggling and hugging. There were biking, kite flying, indoor games, and a rope swing, but the highlight was the beach. We lived by the tides, daring the sticky mud when the...
read moreLiving on Mission
When I heard that actor Chadwick Boseman (most famous for playing Black Panther) had died, I was as shocked as most people. Then, reading all the tributes from friends, colleagues, and fans, I was unexpectedly touched. Of course we are all prone not to “speak ill of the dead” right after someone dies, but nothing has been brought forward that casts a shadow on his legacy. If anything, his life looks more remarkable now that we know he battled cancer for four years, even while filming several of his most iconic roles. True, being public with...
read moreThe Forgotten Factor
Luke 10:27* Without question, laws, regulations, and better education and training for police are needed to combat systemic racism. The same is true in terms of schools in educating disadvantaged kids and addressing chronic poverty. What about the escalating vitriol in politics and the ever-widening gulf between progressives and conservatives, at the expense of the majority of Americans who simply want problems dealt with in a fair and equitable way? Even if new laws could bridge the divide, they might never be passed. Then add to this the...
read moreFully Trained
“A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 NET) One of the starkest memories I have about being “Christian” happened after undergrad, bumping into a friend I hadn’t seen in a few years. I had known her from some of the youth groups I had attended on campus while trying to find my niche. We were talking about life, and I said I had come to Costco right after church. She quickly exclaimed, “I had no idea you were Christian!” I am not sure how she meant it, but it has always...
read moreA Bulwark Never Failing
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing… The first line from this well-known hymn has been stuck in my mind for the past two weeks now. I have no recollection of even hearing it recently, and I certainly don’t know any of the other words to the song by heart. It has been both encouraging and utterly annoying as I find myself just humming and singing this first line over and over and over again. I finally looked it up on YouTube, hoping to have the other lines of the song equally ingrained, but although I have a love for hymns,...
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