Learning
Growth
Unity
What Does Your Crew Look Like?
We were never meant to do life alone, to carry our heavy burdens by ourselves. And parenting is surely one of the heaviest loads because of the precious cargo. Hosting the grands is one way we partner with our kids to help ease their load from time to time.
Act or Hesitate?
For many of us, fall means football (and if it doesn't for you...hang with me for a bit). High School, college and the pros draw the attention of the nation. While soccer remains king of world-wide sports, American football sure moves the needle in the US. A couple of Fridays ago over 4,000 fans piled into Summit High's stadium and watched a great game between the Storm and the Bend High Lava Bears. It was a back-and-forth contest that hinged on just a couple of plays. Unless something weird happens, these two will see each other again, deep in the state playoffs.
Jolly Green Giant and the Cow
In Pakistan we worked with a relief organization that had interesting names for their vehicles. There was a tiny Daihatsu jeep that they named the bouncy Tigger. There were two Toyota Dinas that our kids had the joy of naming Dina Might and Dina Soar. Then there was a large green Toyota Land Cruiser affectionately called the Jolly Green Giant.
Lessons from the Road
The Psalms of ascent in the Hebrew Bible were road songs sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for religious festivals and are found toward the back of the bible's songbook. The lyrics affirmed faith, they reminded of true truths and encouraged travelers to do the hard work of trekking onward. One of my favorites is Psalm 133. The first line reads:
How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.
Why Vigilance?
I can’t be anywhere at the Oregon coast without thinking of my young friend, Charity, who watched helplessly, hysterically as a sneaker wave snatched her husband and 3-year-old son out to sea.
Lessons Learned at an Alaska Fishing Camp
Looking back at the articles I've written for the Forge, I'm finding a consistent thread: a desire to communicate the gospel to non-believers. To be sure, I'm still not very good at it, but I try. And I want the church to have that same desire. Isn't evangelism one of the purposes and mission of God's people?
So here again is another story of evangelism.
Not the Worst
Reading the Bulletin a bit ago, a letter to the editor had a headline that stopped me cold. The theme of the angry letter was directed to the paper choosing to publish negative details about a man from years before, but now is hailed a hero in a recent tragic shooting. The headline read,
None of us is the worst thing we have done
For the Thirsty
The poor and homeless are desperate for water
Their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I’m there to be found, I’m there for them,
And I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
Working for Smiles
When I was first learning to love Jesus, I had to unlearn not just habits of disobedience, but also selfish motivations for obedience. My sin nature craves approval and acceptance from others. I possess an urge to feel important or validated which often leads me to good works, but also to sin. The reason we obey must be at least as important as the act of obedience.
Touched by Folks
So, there I was last winter, on a dark and windy and rainy night in Corvallis, shoehorned into a small-ish sports bar called the Angry Beaver. The place was packed with old guys from just about every walk of life, but tied together by a single rope that was faithfully held by one hand. Differences in status and health and location melted away that night and old stories were retold and ribald songs sung and plenty of food and drink was consumed because we were all rugby players at OSU. And we were there to honor our coach/mentor/friend, Woody Bennett.
Guilty
I have not been charged yet. It has not come to trial. But if it does, I'm sure I will be convicted of murder. I killed a man.
Follow Me?
Would you be surprised to discover that Jesus never commanded us to convert anyone? And if you think about it, he never tried to convert anyone, either. Instead, when he chose his disciples, he issued a two-word invitation—a command, really—“Follow me”. Why did he put it that way?
Wilderness Days
The wilderness should not be taken lightly. We can easily hang descriptive words on it like: harsh, lonely, desolate, painful, anxious, depressed and lost, that all wrap themselves around the idea of the wildlands. These are the places we try to avoid and seek an exit from as soon as possible; but if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, these places are also where the most rich times with God can be discovered.
What if We Could Return to Wonder
As I leashed up Cody’s dog, he’d stuff cookies into his pocket. On nice days, we’d walk a nearby trail before getting coffee to go with the cookies. Armed with hot beverages, we drove the country roads east of town – past faded red barns, clumps of sheep, and painted ponies.
Camping with Millennials
Recently, my wife, Robin, and I returned from camping in northwest Wyoming with our niece and her husband. They do not share our faith, but we had a wonderful time with them. Here's what I observed and learned…
Lessons from the PCT
The other day while driving home and passing through Sisters, I picked up three hitchhikers heading east. Two women and a man looking quite dusty and worn and at their feet squatted trail-weary backpacks. My guess was proved correct that the trio were PCT through-hikers taking a detour to Bend. They tossed gear in the bed of the pickup and piled into the cab, relieved. They needed a ride (and a shower!) and I got the gift of looking into a window on a world I know little of.
What if We Could Write History
What will you help God write in this current season of your life that will read like an interesting history book to the people following after you, that will inspire them to hunger for a well-lived story?
What We Can Learn from Latrines in Asia
Those ancient laws in the Old Testament were written for our learning. There is a Spiritual lesson to be learned. God is not as concerned with physical cleanliness as He is with Spiritual. Mark 7:14-15 & 18-23 make that very clear.
Growth, Not Change
In every part of life we find God. It is so tempting to think that Jesus only resides in my quiet time or prayer or church service, and leaves the rest for us to figure out, but he is in the midst of it all. Growth in and through those times stands as worthy targets.
Yesterday, Today, and Forever
What would I do if Jesus changed the essence of His character throughout the Bible? It would be utterly confusing.