Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 On this Halloween edition, the good folks at biblegateway.com want us to […]

Reformation This past Sunday was Reformation Sunday, and the church family I serve apparently has a history of recognizing that. We had a bagpiper greet people as they arrived in the parking lot and again after worship. I don’t recall any of the previous three congregations placing such emphasis on the day, and, to be […]

Toyin’ As I walk the dog We turn and look down the road Autumn is upon us We shiver with thoughts of snow But for now, glorious Fall!

Toyin’ The beautiful sounds Low pitch and higher response Calls in the forest Are they lovers or just friends? Barred Owls in conversation! Calls In the Forest – An original Hitchhiker TANKA inspired at O’dark-thirty in the White Mountains. 2025.09.29

TOYIN’ Anisoptera The majestic dragonfly Four transparent wings Grace hovering in the air Ancient and also present DRAGONFLY – an original HitchHiker TANKA inspired by these amazing creatures flitting about in the forest known as our backyard.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 Godzilla and I had to fight over who would take this verse. Be thankful I won the fight as he was going […]

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Throughout Philippians, Paul uses some variant of the word “joy” over a dozen times. Sometimes it shows up in English as “grace”, others as “joy”, and still others as “rejoice”. In today’s scripture, he uses it twice! He even acknowledges his repetition by […]