Columnists

An Irish possum

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING I’m staying busy. Oh, yeah? Doing what? Trying to look busy. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. Spring is when you can step outside, and char your rear end while...

I believe in the church

I've been thinking a lot about Church lately. Now you'd expect a pastor to be thinking a lot about Church-it's kind of his job. If he didn't think about Church, you might question whether he cares about it. Because honestly, what we think about most, is what we care about the most. Is that why...

Texas: the unlucky state

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING The lottery is up to $496 million. If you knew you were going to win the lottery, what would you do? The first thing I’d do would be to buy a ticket. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his...

Rejoice Sunday

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Rejoicing in the midst of mourning... it seems like an oxymoron. Yet this is the theme of Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent). Laetare means "Rejoice." It is the first word in the Latin translation of the historic Introit for that...

Smelling salts for the ears

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING I got new eyeglasses at Costco. They look good. How do you like them? I like them. Now I see everything in bulk. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. He was a familiar...

The race marked out for us

If you enjoyed the winter Olympics, I’d like to introduce you to another icy sport that begins this week. I’m a fan of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race that starts on Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska. The "Last Great Race on Earth" unites a diverse community of indigenous villages across a vast region and...

Grawlix is the symbol for swearing

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING My Uncle Luther could hold his breath for 30 minutes. That’s incredible. Not really. He could do it only once. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. The weather was...

Embrace the cross

As a pastor, I have been invited into many homes over the years. In addition to having the opportunity to visit without interruption, the decor of a home often speaks volumes about what favilies value, their family history, and their priorities. One of the most recognizable symbols that instantly...

The benefits of house burping

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING I was walking an Alaskan trail when I met a bear. All I had in my backpack was a can of fly spray, so I sprayed the bear. What happened? The bear flew away. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I...

Keep the fire burning

The fire crackled, burning bright. I could feel the heat from where I was sitting. It was a crisp night—a perfect night for a fire. The family was roasting marshmallows, laughing as they tried to shove the whole s'more into their mouth. Half of the gooey marshmallow stuck to my son's cheek...