Rod, Thank you for mentioning the reality of loss in our community amongst our day of celebration and rejoice.  I am so grateful for your tact and gentleness to address the passing of Miriam's husband, Dennis' stepfather, Dave Hyatt.  Thank you for reminding us of Jesus' call to us, to hold both grief and gratitude simultaneously, so that we can feel met in our sorrows and our joys by…

When you grow stir crazy, you'll do almost anything to get out of the house. I needed to cash a check and make a deposit so I bribed my kid to drive me through the bank drive through with the promise of running through McDonalds on our way home. He agreed and off we went. It was so good to get out of the house. At McDonalds I had…

"Be careful what you ask for..." Mom always said. Mom is almost always right about these sorts of things and I would be wise to listen. I'm bored flopped out on the couch sucking down pain medication and watching television all day long. People come and visit and that is awesome because it breaks the monotony. Being the whiner that I am, I tell folks about how bored I…

Well, I screwed up. I went to my surgeon for my first follow up visit on Friday and I told him that I was only taking the muscle relaxants morning and evening and that I had almost weaned myself completely off the narcotic pain killers. The pain has been tough to manage, but I was managing it and was quite proud of myself for doing so. I was excited…

David snagged a book from his parent's house- and when we arrived in Detroit I snagged it and started reading it. Anyone who knows me well knows that I do one thing particularly well... and that thing is to cry. I cry. If you're crying and I am connected to your story- I'm gonna cry. However, I generally don't cry when I read books- I feel deeply inside, but…

I recently wrote a letter to the editor in response to an article where a local doctor had advocated for 'death with dignity' for people suffering from the various forms of dementia. In it I suggested there was nothing dignified about death, I declared it to be the enemy that it is. A woman who served as a chaplain responded by castigating me and talking about all the beautiful…

Flack baby has arrived. It's a Boy!!! More details to come.  Take a Meal

After going through the trauma of having a hip replacement and after having spent several months in a rehabilitation hospital, Mom was moved into a room in the assisted living section of the Arizona Grand Senior Living facility with the help of Big T Movers. We decorated her room with furnishings, photographs, and other favorite items from her house and then emptied and sold the house. I have simplified…

As many of you know already, I'm interviewing for a full-time Lecturer position at the University of Arizona very soon.  This is the latest step (maybe the culmination?) of a long process God has had me on, and I thought I should write it all down.  So sit down in a comfy chair - since I'm writing this, it's going to be a long one! Back in 2005, I…

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE A slathering of cast off couches await. Sagging creamy candles flicker joy. Kitchen counter clothed with cookies. Folks sneak one as they slowly wander by. Villagers pile in from off the street, shouting cheerful greetings ‘cross the room. The Wise’s share their Christmas letter Others run to give some little gift. Still others tell fun stories, making others smile. Little Violet screws up the courage to tell…

I attended a Mission Southwest meeting last week. It was comprised of several pastors and other church leaders and we all gathered around tables to plot paths forward regarding various ministry opportunities in the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America. Of course, we gather from all around the state and before we sat down, as is the custom, we walked around greeting each other. Hearty hand…

HEALING WOUNDS Truth creeps across the threshold like darkness steals the day, a slow slog of forgetting, a dying act of letting go: It is hard to live, forgiving. Far as distant earthen corners, so far our sin has been removed, even still we’d quick go digging, taking back our dreadful wounds. We hold miserly to what we know. At every moment it’s the other, who we believe should…

As in ages gone by the Park family will be hosting a Hot Drink Holiday Special on December 6th (Saturday) at our home. A truly horrendous holiday movie will be played inside, while a nice fire will be outside. Anyone is welcome to come and bring friends. The party will start at 6:30 and go till everyone leaves. Feel free to come and go at any time or not…

Raeya had a problem last night. I'm one of the pastors of the church and when one of your parishioners has a problem you are compelled to listen and take what actions you can to remedy the situation. I was busy talking to Colleen about my sermon. I had not made some things clear during my sermon, and she had been questioning me about the unclear things. I think…

Hello Village community, I recently had a birthday party, where I gave a speech proclaiming what my last year has been, and my own blessing on my next year to come. I wanted to share it with all of you, as a way for you to know me deeper, and as a way for you to know how to pray for me. Love you all. "I long for my…

The carpet cleaners came and left and before they went they pulled the sectional couch away from the wall and uncovered a treasure trove of missing items among the cat hair, dust, and cobwebs that had partly filled the crack between the couch and wall. There was a copy of Christian Courier that contained my Graveyards poem. I thought I had lost that copy forever, but there the poem…