We are beggars, that is true

Church reformer Martin Luther died in the year 1546 at age 62. Beside his deathbed was a desk that had a piece of paper with writing on it. There were just over 100 words written, the last being, “We are beggars, that is true.” What does this mean?

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Hearing the benefits of a silent night

A few weeks ago, our family took a vacation in the country.

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You too can be a history maker

I talked with someone recently about their choice of novels. Besides the Bible, I was wondering what kind of books they liked to read.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

God's door is always open for us

Three years ago, for our summer vacation, Jeanne, Ben and I took care of Dew Dance “Ranch,” in Port Angeles, Wash.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Unwelcome words that fall upon deaf ears

When you hear the word “prophet,” what comes to mind? I think most would say that it invokes the image of a grizzled old man with a long gray beard, where birds might build a nest. He would be dressed in clothes made of animal hair or some simple natural …

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Please note: the menu has changed

What is the most unusual sandwich that you have ever tasted?

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The mysteries of heaven in two cats

I looked out the window this morning. Trees revealed a gentle breeze. The sky was overcast, a continuous stretch of same-greyness, wonderfully and masterfully dappled by God’s own brush. Then came a small, slender, slinking figure into view. One of the neighborhood cats.

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3 cats on a sunlit carpet

Over the past few months, there have been changes in our household. Our daughter has temporarily moved in with us. She has a cat named Shadow, whom she rescued off the streets of Port Angeles. He is now strictly an inside-the-house cat.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Taking another look at the Messiah

Mark 8: 22-26: “They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Communing with nature: the second step

I was talking with someone recently. He believes that God is the author of all things – from the beauty of nature to our flesh and bone bodies. I would agree.

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Yes, Jesus loves (my footwear)

I realize the following sounds a bit odd. Still, I want to share.

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What, me worry? Well, yes indeed

As a kid, I loved reading Mad Magazine. One feature of the publication was a character named Alfred E. Neuman.

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Can you have it all?

The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, Chapter 4, verses 5–8:

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Tiny webs make for a big job

Spring is here. How can I tell? Besides what the calendar tells me, there are other telltale signs. As of late, on some days, the pollen count has been extremely high. How do I know? Well, my nose has revealed this to me.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

What are the make, model and accessories?

I can remember when I first got my driver’s license. I was so excited. I loved to borrow my parent’s car, play the radio and cruise around town.

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I am not talking about guns

“Guns don’t kill people, people do.” This statement was made by someone I know. For quite a while, we engaged in meaningful conversation on the topic of gun control. Personally, I think the issue is much more complex, but I wish to be respectful of their opinion here.

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Daylight Saving Time coffee

We have an automatic coffee maker. It has a timer and is set to begin pouring coffee into the pot at just the right time. This is all a part of the morning routine.

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Gardening basics for the soul

The term “gardener” is an active word. It calls for one to continually work at the craft.

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This is an emergency

My family had been away from Moses Lake for a few days. We returned on Monday. I am not one for longer road trips. All that driving wears me out, especially when parts of the trip involve navigating heavy city traffic. I am capable of such but it requires more …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

This is an emergency

My family had been away from Moses Lake for a few days. We returned on Monday. I am not one for longer road trips. All that driving wears me out, especially when parts of the trip involve navigating heavy city traffic. I am capable of such but it requires more …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

When you lose a parent

I can’t remember when I have felt this heavy-hearted. Seeing your father pass away is a difficult thing. Watching his steady decline right before your eyes. It is gut-wrenching.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Double your pleasure, double your fun

Are you old enough to remember television commercials from the 1980s? If so, do you recall the one for Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum? It featured identical twins doing exactly the same thing, including putting a stick of Doublemint gum in their mouths at the same time and chewing. (If you are …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Jesus and politics crossed paths more than once

I have heard it said that Jesus had nothing to do with politics. For me, this is like claiming Jesus never took in a breath of air.

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A single, most powerful word

Do you remember John Madden?

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The best gift may be to lack gifts

Years ago, I heard something rather strange. I was told that the Christian Church does not exist for itself as much as does is for others. It took me a while to get my head around this. The more I thought about it though, the more it made sense.

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Giving credit where credit is due

At Immanuel Lutheran Church, we planned for Christmas months in advance.

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Ignoring gift-exchange rules

Many moons ago (1987), Jeanne and I were invited to a Christmas party. It was being held at a friend’s house.

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O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...

I put up the Christmas tree a while ago. It celebrates Christ’s birth.

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Do you have a favorite song?

In our household, when I was quite young, we had a record player. I don’t remember my exact age; perhaps I was 4 years old? It belonged to one or both of my older sisters. Looking back, I never did ask whose it was. I just knew that it wasn’t …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Remember to treat others well

There are a couple of ways of saying this.

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Do you need a new lens of faith?

For years I used the “monovision” method (a single contact lens instead of two). That lens would go on the dominant eye, for distance vision.

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A slice of pie from an old family recipe

As a pastor, the most valuable training I have ever received is in something called “family systems theory.”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Learning to fish for walleye in Moses Lake

It has been three and a half years since we moved to Moses Lake. Everywhere we have lived, the fishing has been unique; techniques and lures employed in one place have not guaranteed success in another.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Greatly honored without certain stuff in mind

In Matthew, Chapter 5, we find what we have dubbed “the Beatitudes.” They include: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Only 58 shopping days until Christmas

As I get older, Christmas continues to change.

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Does God revolve around science?

In the history of humankind, many mysteries have been solved.

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Keeping well goes beyond yourself

Friday, Sept. 22 was the first day of fall. There is a lot I like about this time of year — football, cool crisp air, and the turning of leaves into brilliant colors.

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Jesus likely never said 'Up, up and away!'

What images do you have of Jesus? Have you ever thought of him as being like Superman?

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The wisdom of a predetermined process

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one,” reads Matthew 18:15.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

This old man, he played 10

Three weeks ago, I tweaked my left knee while in the backyard garden. Last week, I turned my right ankle while I was in McCosh Park, exploring the edges of the lake.

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Jesus and Ancestry.com

There is a puzzling thing within the 15th chapter of the gospel according to Matthew: Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman, a Gentile, not of Jewish blood, who is in desperate need.

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The parable of the Megan Method

In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13, there is a string of parables. In Jesus’ day, they related quite well to local, everyday occupations: the mustard seed (farmer), yeast and flower (baker), the treasure in a field (land owner), the pearl of great price (merchant), and the net (fisherman).

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I now know what's in my wallet

For me, the advertising team that represents the Capitol One Credit Card hit a home run.

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How many passwords are required?

In the day and age of the internet there is something you can’t do without. It is a necessary safeguard called the personal password.

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A lesson learned from my second wife

It is not widely known but I actually have three “wives.” I love and appreciate them all.

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Worried about the 100 year highway

Jeanne and I just returned from two weeks’ vacation. There were plenty of people we would have liked to have seen on this trip. However, to do so would have worn us out. So our list was short this time.

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This is a noisy place to live

The parsonage is across the street from McCosh Park. It is great having a wonderful piece of nature right next door.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

A conversation with Ecclesiastes

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

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Leviathans come in all sizes

“There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

A lesson learned from selling two homes

We had lived at our residence in Plano, Texas, for a decade when we decided to sell. It was then that all of those “little projects” I just never got around to stared us in the face.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Everyone is unique, but not in everything

Jeanne wanted to purchase a certain brand of shoes, and the nearest place that carried them was a store in the Spokane Mall.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

How I normally begin my day – step by step

This morning, the alarm on my iPhone went off at 6:05 AM. When it made that familiar sound, I reached out and touched the word “stop” on the display screen to silence it. I habitually sleep on my side, but after I shut off the alarm, I always end up …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO

Recovery can be a beautiful thing

Jeanne and I grew up on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. It is there that the Elwha River can be found. The river’s source is the snowpack of the Olympic Mountain Range. The Elwha is 45 miles long, travels north, and empties into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS AGO

Are you still waiting for your spring?

Is it spring yet?

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An admission of guilt and most sincere apology

I’ve been told that confession is good for the soul. I hope the following will suffice.

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Getting sick doesn't have to be bad news

How has your health been for the past few months? Overall, I’ve done pretty good job of taking care of myself.

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Be mindful that what goes around comes around

Jeanne and I have enjoyed dining at many restaurants in Moses Lake.

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We are more like cats than we know

Our family arrived in Moses Lake in mid-June of 2014. We had traveled all the way from Central Texas. We looked forward to returning to our home state after 16 years.

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There are times we need reminders

I once served six months as a part-time interim pastor in a small rural community in Central Texas. It had been a while since that church had had a permanent pastor.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

I want and I waste: being stewards of God's world

Jeanne and I do most of our shopping locally. We also order through Amazon. We have found this to be very convenient.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

I found no rattlesnakes in the snow

In the fall, a friend took me down the Yakima River in his boat. He had been a fishing guide for many years and knew the river like the back of his hand.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

A mohair suit or camel's hair?

Growing up, I listened to a lot of rock and roll. One such song was “Bennie and the Jets.” It was written by Bernie Taupin in 1973 and performed by Elton John.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

The beginnings of spring within your winter

Dec. 21 was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year – not much daylight. On that evening, there was a worship service held at the Moses Lake United Methodist Church. It is referred to as a “Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas” service, and was offered especially for those …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

A lesson learned from an unlikely source

I fill my two bird feeders in the morning. One contains nyjer or thistle seed; the goldfinches favor these. The other has sunflower seed. A variety of birds are drawn to them: mostly house finches, doves and red-winged black birds.

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The time for charitable giving should be for all times

There are 12 days of Christmas — a season that extends from Dec. 25 to Jan. 25

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A time for war, a time for peace

Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 8b — “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… A time for war, and a time for peace.”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

All creatures great and small

“Then the Lord said, ‘And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?’” (Jonah 4:10–11)

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One of the benefits of growing aches and pains

When I was in my early teens, if I recall correctly, I promised myself that I would never be like some older people. I saw a number of seniors whose health was questionable because of a perceived lack of exercise. I reasoned that all of this could be prevented through …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Many raindrops, many ripples, many souls

Two years ago I attended a conference in Walla Walla. During some free time, I took my camera and discovered a small park that was a short drive from the hotel. In this place was a small creek. I thought it was perfect for some macro photography.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

When an artist succeeds in catching peoples' eyes

Jeanne and I visited Wenatchee a few days ago. We make excursions like this at least a couple of times a month to get away by ourselves and have fun.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Jesus' love divided the people

Jesus declares in Luke 12:51 — “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

How Christians may lose their way in politics

A friend of mine recently said this about the political process we have for selecting the next president of the United States: “It was never about personalities for me, I’m not voting for Prom Court. Before either party nominated a candidate, they had crystal clear ideological differences that made my …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

The Good Samaritan was also despised

Someone once told me that it was a good thing for Jesus’ parables to prompt an honest self-examination; this might make me squirm a bit.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

God has written the most beautiful music

Psalm 98:5 reads “Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!”

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Moving forward: from victim to healer

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Part 3: So I'm going to my high school reunion

Editor’s note: This column was continued from the June 17 edition of the Columbia Basin Herald

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Part 2: So I'm going to my high school reunion

I struggled over the decision to attend the reunion. After what had happened to me, I knew going would be difficult.

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God is the greatest author of all

Someone told me a friend of theirs had a rather odd habit. This person loved reading novels but had a particular way of doing so. Instead of starting a new book at the beginning they would turn to the last few pages and read them. After this ultimate spoiler, they …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

God is in the midst of the noise and clutter

I’ve had a few moments in my life when I stopped to take in everything around me. Why? The beauty was simply overwhelming and I thanked God.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Please, Lord, do not interrupt me

On most days I have a preset schedule. On weekdays, I get up to greet the sun. I fill the bird feeders. I then water the south side gardens. I feed the tropical fish and the cats.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Creating music from the heart

One ministry we have at Immanuel is creating new hymns. We are now finishing our third piece. It is entitled “Lord you know: a lament.” The lyrics of this song are in the form of free verse poetry; it is a storytelling hymn that does not rely upon rhyme or …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

What would the disciples ever do without Jesus?

Our son, Benjamin, was involved in Challenger League Baseball in Waco, Texas. This organization includes local sponsoring businesses as well as a small army of caring volunteers.

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2 choices for the focus of our faith

Have you ever dropped a small piece of food on the floor, quickly picked it up, and then popped it into your mouth?

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

A lesson learned from Shrek and Princess Fiona

In mid-March, the Basin Community Theater presented “Shrek the Musical” to patrons within the greater Moses Lake area.

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A lesson learned from Shrek and Princess Fiona

In mid-March, the Basin Community Theater presented “Shrek the Musical” to patrons within the greater Moses Lake area.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Great places to go for comfort, peace

I love my office at the parsonage. It is a retreat for me. I’ve collected a few special things and placed them in the space. They serve a great purpose.

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Do the brightest know Jesus the best?

In our society we elevate those who possess a higher degree of cognitive intelligence. Why shouldn’t we? They put a man on the moon. They have expanded our knowledge of our planet and the entire cosmos. They have given us greater understanding of how own bodies function, cured diseases and …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO

We are in the midst of a political year

I was 10 years old in 1968. At that age, I had rather eclectic television viewing habits. Before and after school I would usually watch a children’s program called “J. P. Patches” on Seattle Television station KIRO Channel 7. If time permitted, I would watch both the local and national …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 9 YEARS AGO

Radical hospitality and abundant love

In the not-so-distant past, Jeanne and I attended services at the congregation where she was baptized and confirmed, and where we were married.

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I hope this will give you a great sense of relief

Jeanne and I took a trip outside of Moses Lake a while back. We had a wonderful time shopping, exploring and enjoying each other’s company.

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Are we blind and deaf to who truly has more?

The Apostle Paul wrote many letters. Some of them were to people of the Christian church in a place called Corinth, which was a large city in ancient Greece. These folks divided themselves in many ways and were a far cry from being a unified group.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO