Category Archives: life

Taking thought for tomorrow – Lessons in making life meaningful from ants and firewood

Posted on April 23, 2014 by raincitypastor

I slept on the sofa last night in the place where I go to study and write sometimes because it was snowing.  Maybe its because I grew up where it never snowed; or because the smell of fir trees remind … Continue reading →

Posted in life | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Taking thought for tomorrow – Lessons in making life meaningful from ants and firewood

The Seahawks: Finding Christ in Football Culture

Posted on January 7, 2014 by raincitypastor

My friend Matthew Kaemingk is a theologian and a sports fan. His guest post today shows us how these two worlds intersect if we’re looking for Christ in culture. You can find more of his writings at Christ and Cascadia.  … Continue reading →

Posted in life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Seahawks: Finding Christ in Football Culture

2014: A Better Path by Adjusting Values: more or less

Posted on January 3, 2014 by raincitypastor

A new year is a blank piece of paper; a chance to stop and consider how to fine tune our investment in the one wild and precious life that we’ve been given.  The “unexamined life is not worth living” is … Continue reading →

Posted in intimacy, life | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Remembrance stones in a climbing wall….

Posted on December 10, 2013 by raincitypastor

What do these stones mean to you? – Joshua 4:6 Early 1990’s:  The first time I saw the climbing wall it was located at the ski area adjacent to Tauernhof, the bible school where I teach in Austria.  Students (and … Continue reading →

Posted in life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

If soil could talk… life lessons from the history of a lake

Posted on December 5, 2013 by raincitypastor

I glance at my watch.  15:50.  I shut my computer, toss on some shoes and a jacket, and am out the door because so far, all week, I’ve missed the sunsets over the lake.  It’s about a half mile down … Continue reading →

Posted in justice, life | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on If soil could talk… life lessons from the history of a lake

Practical Advice for Maximizing Your University Experience

Posted on October 1, 2013 by raincitypastor

School’s in, and for those of you who read this and are in college, I’d like to offer a word of welcome.  As the pastor of a church with lots of university students in it, one of my favorite Sundays … Continue reading →

Posted in church, life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dousing the flames of hypocrisy: The Big Value of Small Ideas

Posted on September 25, 2013 by raincitypastor

The world has turned on big ideas, of course.  Lincoln ended slavery in America.  MLK gave birth to civil rights.  Martin Luther brought the Reformation.  Plato.  Augustine.  Hitler.  Pol Pot.  Lenin. Marx.  Like the ideas or don’t; they’ve changed the … Continue reading →

Posted in church, life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Walking Carefully: The Context changes the focus

Posted on September 3, 2013 by raincitypastor

“Be careful how you walk” is what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, and a Labor Day weekend filled with walking of every sort makes the corollary truth clear too:  Different terrain calls for different ways of walking.  This is vitally … Continue reading →

Posted in life | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Walking Carefully: The Context changes the focus

When Everything’s Collapsing? The Ancient Paths

Posted on August 28, 2013 by raincitypastor

It’s been a week.  In the normally limp and newsless lazy days of late August, our senses have been assaulted by horrific images, at home and abroad.  We’ve learned that the Syrian government is exterminating their own people, and that … Continue reading →

Posted in coffee with God, intimacy, justice, life | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lessons from Daniel and Esther: Know Your King or Miss Your Point

Posted on August 23, 2013 by raincitypastor

The convergence of my daily Bible readings and a memorial service for my dear friend have me thinking about how much richer are lives can be if we all align around the one true thing that matters, which is Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in church, justice, life | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Lessons from Daniel and Esther: Know Your King or Miss Your Point