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We are in the middle of autumn here in the Swan Valley. The leaf trees are just getting past their peak color and the larch needles are just starting to turn yellow. Thinking about the process of leaves (and needles) changing colors, it is a bit ironic that the process that brings out the beauty, is also the one that leads to their ultimate demise. The color change happens as the life-giving green chlorophyll breaks down and disappears. This reveals other often brilliant colors that are in the leaves as well. However, inevitably, the leaves fal...
If you’re like me, you are familiar with the words of the first and maybe second verse of many Christmas carols, but perhaps not-so-much with some of the later verses. One such example for me is the carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” The song is based on a poem written by Edmund Sears in 1849. The first verse is similar to many carols and at least for me is the most familiar: “It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men fr...
Maybe I have a weird sense of humor but an old bluegrass song with the title “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to Die” came to my mind as this pandemic was starting to really hit here in the United States. The last part of that for sure rings true in the times we’re in. At least as far as I can tell, the author of the song is unknown. We cannot ask about their intended meaning for the song, but like art does, the song can get us to think about it. Although the title generally does ring true, it is a bit exaggerated. There are t...
Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” This verse is part of a passage describing the new life that a Christ follower should exhibit. There should be a lying aside of the old self and putting on of the new self which is to be the likeness of God. That last part is a tall standard to live up to and one we fall short of. Fortunately, that is something that should result from our salvation rather than something that will earn it for us. However, we sho...
I recently ran across a quote on Facebook attributed to @mindfulfitness that said “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.” I suspect that for most people who choose to live in this part of the world, they can at least find some joy in the snow whether it be in recreational opportunities such as skiing or snowmobiling, in work opportunities clearing snow, or just in the beauty it adds to an already beautiful place. On the other side of it, I think there are aspects of...
Early in his life after he had taken over as King from his father David, God said to Solomon, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon replied that because he was young he wanted wisdom to discern between good and evil to be able to act as a judge for his people. God being pleased with his answer gave him great wisdom along with riches and honor that he had refrained from asking for. 1 Kings 10:23-34 says, “So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. All the earth was seeking the p...
Last February, the Oroville Dam in California had a problem with its spillway that eventually threatened the integrity of the dam and led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents downstream. Although a major catastrophe was avoided, the event served as a warning to the problem of aging infrastructure in our country. I believe the event also can provide an analogy to problems that can arise in our lives if we allow sin a foothold. The problem with the Oroville spillway started as just a small area of the concrete broke loose as...
The election season is upon us as we head down the final month until the election. Although the presidential election always seems to be divisive, this time it is perhaps worse than ever. I cannot say I follow politics that closely but it seems that this election for many voters is as much about not wanting the other candidate as it is about actually wanting the candidate they will ultimately vote for. In their October issue, Christianity Today published a series of articles where arguments were made for Clinton, Trump, and neither, so it...
Easter is arguably the most important holiday for Christians. The death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of Christian beliefs. So how has a holiday with so much meaning been seemingly taken over by the Easter Bunny and marshmallow chicks? What should we as Christians make of it all? The decorating of eggs for Easter can be dated back to at least the 13th century. One explanation is that eggs were forbidden during Lent and were boiled or roasted as a way of preserving them. They were then decorated as part of the Easter Celebration....
We are getting into the time of year where the signature look of the hunter moves from camouflage to orange. When it comes to hunting, there is a tradeoff between not being seen by the animals and being visible to other hunters who might otherwise shoot in your direction. When it comes to Christianity, there might be a similar debate when it comes to how much we should look like the world around us. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear what he expects of us. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be h...
