Columnists

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees... November

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting My wife says there are two things wrong with me. Only two? What are they? Number one, I don’t listen, and I think she said something else, too. Driving by Bruce's drive I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his...

Cremation and resurrection

Pastor’s Note: Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the...

A sea of kind words

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING Pick a number between 1 and 10. Why? I want to see if you can do it. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. It was a Goldilocks Day, not too hot nor too cold. It...

When strangers meet God in the wilderness

We were lounging on a stone shelf that sloped from our island campsite, surrounded by blue water, rocky shorelines, and endless green pines. A thoughtful spiritual discussion was underway when I noticed a dot in the distant sky. The dot grew and became a bald eagle and silently glided over us. I...

The junk drawer

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING I have three chickens in my backyard. One hen lays brown eggs. That’s not unusual. Oh, no? Could you do it? DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. Another...

Old age is a thing

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING The traffic was terrible this morning. It was backed up for miles, and every driver was honking a horn. What caused that? I couldn’t tell. They were all behind me. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce....

The colors of grace

I don't know how you feel about fall. Whether you like it or not, I’m going to tell you how I feel about this season. To give you some context, we have a white birch tree right outside our front door. And as I look out my window, there’s a moment every late September that I think, “What a...

Son of Encouragement

St. Barnabas was the early mentor and missionary companion of St. Paul. While his actual name was Joseph, Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”) was given this special nickname by the other Apostles because of his compassionate and conciliatory character. After St. Paul’s miraculous...

Having trouble with the circle flies?

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING Do you exercise? I go to the gym almost every day. Really? Yes, I almost went to the gym today. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. A disheveled man...

Growing up to be good, nervous men

ECHOES FROM THE LOAFERS’ CLUB MEETING I don’t drive on roads that are under construction. Where do you go? Nowhere. DRIVING BY BRUCE’S DRIVE I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. We had a fellow in the neighborhood who had...