Stay at Home Order For a moment I felt relief. The world was going to stop and I didn’t have to feel the fear of missing out. Something huge was happening to get me off the hook. But it hasn’t turned out that way. There’s still a million ways to feel the deficit. To feel the “shoulds”, the missing out. I should be helping. I should be learning something.…

Are we ever going to felt the same about our kids giving spontaneous hugs Linking arms Accidentally sharing a sandwich Exchanging a two year olds enthusiastic kiss?   Are we ever going to feel the same about hugging our friends Sitting side by side on a bench Holding them as their tears fall on our shoulder Occasionally embracing them cheek to cheek?   Are we ever going to feel…

Imagine Fire Imagine cleansing flame burning up the dross, purifying perfect gold, until all shimmers in the light of day.    Imagine fiery clarity.  Dazzling diamond facets whose brightly shining cuts pierce the darking clouds  through the dim of twilight.    Imagine glowing embers, luminescent logs, the perfect dying, offering heat and hope in the dark of night. 

For most of Bentley's life his access to technology has been a computer laptop or an iPad. Both of these items are easy to put on a shelf or put a lock code on to prohibit his free range use. When we moved to this house we were given a television and would sometimes find Bentley up in the night watching his favorite show on Netflix while eating some…

the following was written in my 20 prayers for 2020 (this list is not exhaustive, but only pertains to what I intend to write) 1. to be patient when i am afraid 2. to save money 3. to be more gracious when things don't go my way 4. to choose healthy 5. time together 6. that we would learn to give as a family 7. Clayton would believe in…

Fire crept down the lofty mountains, lapped up Mt. Lemmon’s piney trees eating at the desert’s gorgeous greenery,  insatiably devouring all it came to see.  The sheriff, knocking on my door, said it had taken sight of me and mine.  That it would soon be time to run,  “You have two hours to collect  the precious things you wish to save.”   It haunts my soul both then and now…

Baptism Here is a video of Jacob getting baptized last year.  This makes me feel blessed to think of everything that came together for this to happen.  I like that I was able to baptize him.  I never baptized someone before and I am very blessed to have the opportunity to baptize Jacob. My dad came and took some photos.  My friend Bill Ackerley came and took video footage…

The Great Feast Easter is not one day, but 50!! The ancient church calendar calls these 50 days “Eastertide.” Eastertide begins on Easter day and ends with Pentecost, the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church. For many communities, the church calendar is used to help disciple new believers and strengthen the faith of those who have been walking with Jesus…

Digital Hospitality I’ve been watching a series of videos lately on YouTube by Malcolm Guite. He is a poet and an Anglican priest. In the past I’ve enjoyed his lectures on literature, especially surrounding Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, as well as C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia. Since the UK went into lockdown, he’s been recording short videos in which he invites the viewer into…

As some know, I have begun to deepen my faith and walk, and am attempting to better understand The Kingdom of God, or the Gospel.  Recently, I came upon this concept while studying The Devine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. Does the Christian Church and Community (The Village Church) have something (knowlege, experience, thoughts) that are essential to life? I can take the Bible as a literary work that is…

I Hate the Coronavirus! It has distanced family and friends.  It has caused death, controversy, confusion, worry and fear.  It’s part of the daily news cycle, which one can attempt to avoid, but not escape. When this first started, I was disappointed that my go-to events in March/April were getting canceled.  March Madness, Festival of Books, Folk Festival, and Pima County Fair all fell victim to the virus.   And…

While he was a prisoner of war in 1940, Jean-Paul Sartre wrote a nativity play. He is primarily remembered as a philosopher, but he also wrote novels, films, songs, and plays so his wartime playwriting isn’t too surprising in that regard. However, as a famously public atheist, a play about the coming of Jesus seems like a strange topic for Sartre. Why did he write this? The play is…

is it morning? 5:28 Am is it still here? 500,000 and counting dressed, i run into the desert the sun rising the mountains change color i stop in awe. home, hot breakfast awaits me eggs from our ladies, fresh veggies, juice math, geography, history snack chickens fed creative drawing time for the kids i open the news not enough masks not enough ventilators are we ready? italy, spain, and…

Hi Villagers! As we are adjusting to social distancing and the many other changes happening today, The Village staff and leadership still wants you to connect with one another. Leaders will be checking in on people from time to time but do not hesitate to reach out to an elder (Rod, Mark, or Eric) if you need anything. In the meantime - here are my top three apps for…

We all know how much COVED-19 has changed our lives in less than 2 weeks. No more gathering at church for worship, prayer, the reading and preaching of the Word, communion and dinner. No more afterglow conversation. No more visits between friends. Now it is just Lar and me or you and yours at home. Fortunately, Lar and I have always spent a lot of time in communication with…

TIME AND DISTANCE Uncle John Hugen handed me a Bible. “It was your great grandmother’s. I think you should have it You’ll appreciate it more than most.” Still, it gathers dust up on my bookshelf. In 1620 it was printed in a language. I can’t begin to understand, it becomes a comfortable, sacred relic, an odd connection to some distant past. A memory of a time I didn’t, couldn’t…