Photo from NASA By Jim Segaar ​Last Sunday I managed to get my church work done earlier than usual. I had things wrapped up by 6 p.m., leaving time for Jim Ginn and me to go out for Chinese food. When we returned home, I decided to settle into the living room and call my sister Dot. I took out my phone, and noticed that she had texted me: “Are you aware of the eclipse? It has started.”   Eclipse! No, I wasn’t aware. I hauled up the heavy blinds over our east window and was delighted to see the moon glowing over Madison Park. I called my sister, and we chatted for nearly an hour while watching ..read more

God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; She has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. ~ Luke 1:52-52 ​I believe there is more gold in this sunset on the Washington coast than there is in Fort Knox.   When we hunger for good things – beauty, love, companionship – we are satisfied.   When we crave wealth, power, and status, we go hungry.   On this Christmas, let’s give and receive what matters most.  ​#NextGen REFLECT: Christmas Day reminds us that humans are special. God loves us so much that God was born in the ..read more

For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name. ~ Luke 1.49  ​I was born in the mountains, and to this day that is where I am most likely to find the holy in life.   Mountains can be mighty without being arrogant. They are mighty simply being themselves. They provide challenge. Beauty. Wonder. Splendor. Mountains make me feel small, in the best possible way. Not insignificant, but in perspective. Surrounded by majesty such as we saw near Banff, Alberta, we skied through mighty mountains that exist on a different scale than I will ever achieve.   Mountains. Mig ..read more

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  ~ Luke 1.46-48 Zion National Park is an impressive sight. Huge cliffs spring up around a roaring river. The scale of the scenery can feel overwhelming, even scary, at times. And yet, even in Zion, little things matter.   Angel’s Landing is a well-known hike in Zion. The trail climbs 1,500 feet in just over two miles, culminating in a dizzying perch that looks as if only an angel could land there. Ultimately, I turned back at the top – it was simply too sc ..read more

Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" ~ Luke 3:12 ​It seems that Jesus didn’t have standards for the types of people who he interacted with. I grew up believing that church and life in general required standards, high standards. And most of the time I didn’t meet them. But slowly I learned that even I have a place in the realm of God. Even I can approach Jesus and ask, “Teacher, what should I do?”   I’ve learned the same lesson about natural beauty. I used to think that beauty was only found in the standard places – national parks ..read more

Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ~ Luke 3: ​The concept of repentance can seem very unappealing, even destructive. I was raised to think of repentance as feeling extremely sorry, admitting guilt, owning up to being wrong. But I often missed a critical part of the concept.   Change. To repent means to change. Change your exercise routine and diet to lose weight. Change your route to go in a new direction. Change your life. It is not a pas ..read more

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. YHWH is near. ~ Philippians 4: ​This pastoral scene from the Cotswolds in England speaks “gentleness” to me. But it might be too much – too gentle. The image of this ewe and her lamb takes gentleness to the level of stereotype. There were lambs frolicking everywhere when we visited. At the same time, lamb chops were on sale in all the food stores.   It’s easy for me to be sarcastic in the face of gentleness. But which is more valuable. I find it easy to get my fill of oh-so-witty humor, but I’ve never overdosed on gentleness.   When’s the last ..read more

Sing praises to YHWH, for God has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. ~ Isaiah 12: ​When we were children we used to groan at our mother’s comments while driving. “Isn’t that beautiful!” she would gush at the most mundane scenery. Even in the middle of eastern Montana where to our young eyes there was nothing.   And so we treat life, expecting to find the glorious only in specific places, with specific people, and specific times. We attempt to surround ourselves in just the right circumstances so that we can live gloriously. But glory is clever. It pops up when least ..read more

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ~ Isaiah 12: It’s easy to take water for granted, until you’ve been extremely thirsty. Out on a dusty trail with nothing to drink. Or filthy. Covered in dust and dried muck, stinking, with no way to clean up.   But water is so much more than a necessity. It is a seasoning for life, adding flare and beauty to any scene. These fall leaves in Vermont were beautiful in their own right, but reflected in water they became incredible.   Let our lives be like water. Reflecting the beauty and kindness around us. Amplifying it ..read more

At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says our God. ~ Zephaniah 3:2 ​I’ve traveled a lot in my life. For years much of my travel was for work, but even in the early days I made time and money for pleasure travel. And my memories of those trips are precious to me.   And yet, I always am ready to be home again. I love the beauty, adventure, and excitement of travel to out-of-the-way places. But home really is where my heart is.   It doe ..read more