We sat in comfortable silence. With my longtime friend, the shade and light breeze felt just right on a hot afternoon. Neither of us were in a hurry and our conversation wandered like a pleasant stream. We talked of past adventures and future hopes, of opportunities missed and chances taken.

Last week’s blog looked at the swing of events from the Yahoo! of Jesus’ baptism to the then of his time of testing in the desert, culminating in the duel with the devil. I used the space as a parallel to our life: We are right with God, but still often kicked around the playground by trials. Lessons in the flesh from Jesus’ experiences have a way of ricocheting relevantly in any of his follower’s mind and heart.

For me, Tim Keller might just be the GOAT of modern-day pastor-teachers and authors. Gone too soon, but still impacting many, Tim’s insights and reflections on scripture provide a master class in a faith life lived well.

For 15 centuries the Benedictine monks have followed an “order” that regulates life, provides a framework on which to build, and which sets standards to emulate. After all that time, most in the order still basically hold to the original ideals orbiting around the motto, “Peace, pray and work.”

Not more than a year ago, while I worked the floor at the Habitat ReStore, a guy came in wearing an outfit that stopped me in my tracks.

Remember the first time you played Jenga? It looked so simple, the stack of blocks and all you had to do was slide out one at a time, alternating with whomever you played against.

But as the game progressed and the stack teetered, anxiety replaced calm and your fingers seemed not able to be still…until the whole thing tumbled with you still holding the last piece you were trying to remove.

The other night we had a few friends over for dinner. It was a fun evening eating take-out BBQ and enjoying each other’s company. We stuffed ourselves, laughed, did some competitive Spam carving and had lively discussions around a few hot topics.

A couple of Saturdays ago was a busy one in Bend. We attended Chris Friess’ memorial service (a very good man remembered well), and after changing clothes I rode the bike down to Drake Park for the No Kings protest and march, and at the same time the downtown bike criterium was running hard on the streets, and Styx was warming up at the amphitheater. Oh, yes, also there was a triathlon finishing up at River Bend Park, and half of the West Coast was visiting our town.

The past couple of weeks, Team Immatour has been on a little bike trip, which is the reason for two Tuesdays without my scribbles. This team is a group of friends who ride together most every summer and were given their name by Francie’s dad while staying with them on a trip through Montana a few years ago. This summer we started in Durango and made our way south and east to Taos, around the Enchanted Circle, then back a different route to our rigs left where we started.

Claudia and I enjoy following each season of American Idol. This is the singing competition that leads viewers along from mass auditions where the good, the bad and the bizarre hope to hear, “You’re going to Hollywood!” from Lionel, Luke and Carrie. Through numerous cuts, getting harder with each round, at the end there is just one left as the winner…the next American Idol.

Recently while reading the book of Acts, I tried to imagine what it was like for these new followers of the Way.

Think about it, in pretty short order after the resurrection of Jesus a wave of spiritual power seems to have crested and crashed, soaking everyone around. Thousands begin a journey of faith based on the words from those who traveled with Jesus. Stories abound.

As I began writing this, tens of thousands had waited hours in a huge square for a chance to spend a moment before the casket and body of Pope Francis. The outpouring of love and support caught the Vatican a bit flat-footed and they had to significantly expand the hours for visitation to accommodate the crowds. By the time you read this, the funeral will have happened and the conclave to choose a successor will have been called.

Here’s a word for your toolbox that might be unfamiliar for some: Liminal. I’ll explain it in just a bit.

Last weekend, Claudia and I joined so many others walking the familiar paths from Good Friday through Easter Sunday.

The Young Life camp, less than 2 hours drive from Bend at the Washington Family Ranch, is a truly amazing place. The historic Big Muddy ranch sits SE of Antelope and up against 13 miles of the John Day River. It straddles two counties, has countless mountains and ravines and hosts all the big game a 64K acre spread might hope to have (that’s 100 square miles!).