ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR

 

Photo by Dorothy

My Grandma Grace Belle's favorite Psalm was Psalm 121. It begins: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." These words are a reminder of where our true help lies. We are reassured by the Psalmist that our help comes from the Lord, the Creator God. If God created the world, can’t He also deal with the problem of evil?

As we look around today, that question feels especially pressing. Political violence—similar to the assassinations that shook our nation in the 1960s—seems to be repeating itself. It is a sobering reminder that history often circles back on itself. While government will do its duty to carry out justice, and while heated rhetoric may quiet down for a time, it often rises again.

This leads us to ask: what will truly stop the wicked? How do we overcome evil with good? On one hand, societies create laws to restrain wrongdoing and protect the innocent. On the other hand, as individuals, we are called to live differently—to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Laws can restrain, but love transforms.

Even so, we know that ultimate justice goes beyond what any human system can achieve. In the end, we all answer to a higher authority. Scripture reminds us that one day, every wrong will be made right and evil will be no more.

The hope we cling to is not only for justice in this world but for the promise of something greater. As Hebrews 11:16 declares: “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

WHAT IS TRUTH?

 

Do we really know, as a society, what truth is? And if not, how do we go about discovering it? These timeless questions have been explored by people throughout history, each generation searching for its own understanding.

The video above, which runs about an hour and a half, takes a closer look at events and culture through this very lens. As you watch, you may find yourself agreeing with some perspectives while disagreeing with others.

Ultimately, the choice of what to believe—and how to interpret truth—is yours to make.

John 8:31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

DEER ME

 

This past Labor Day my cousins made a trip out to the Tahoma National Cemetery to place their home grown beautiful dahlias on the graves of our loved ones. Little did they know that some quiet culprits would follow behind the flower placers and help themselves to some tasty bouquets.  Fortunately they were on the other side of the road and it looked like they prefered roses.  We do hope the dahlias will stay in place. 

Photo by Anita

Labor Day often gets framed around cookouts, parades, and the “end of summer,” but for those left behind—we become the living witnesses to love and memory. We carry stories forward, keeping alive the presence of those who are gone.

We give thanks to God for those who worked and served others.  

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

DON'T CONFORM

 

Gen Z — what are we going to get with this next generation?

They might:

• Value authenticity—want to be “real” rather than polished.
• Be less swayed by traditional authority or institutions.
• Prefer side hustles, freelancing, or creative projects over traditional 9-to-5 jobs.
• Feel comfortable blending passions with income.

At first glance, these traits may feel new. But as I look back on my own childhood in the 1950s, I realize some of these values were already alive in my family. In many ways, we were non-conformists long before the term was popular. My dad didn’t think furniture was necessary when orange crates would do. My brothers dreamed of flying to Mars. My sister resisted joining youth group at church. I refused to play a musical instrument and often chose the opposite of what everyone else was doing—just to prove I wasn’t conforming. Meanwhile, my mom held firmly to her belief that every woman should get a college education, and she assumed that we were all “perfect people” who always made the right choices.

Of course, life eventually taught me otherwise. As I grew older, I discovered I was not perfect, and I couldn’t just wing it when it came to work or home life. My early goal had been to have fun—dating without any interest in marriage and resisting the idea of being a housewife. My post-college dreams were ambitious and adventurous: becoming a Rockette in New York City or serving as a Gray Lady in South Korea.

But life has a way of surprising us. My last boyfriend asked if I wanted to make our relationship more permanent. I assumed he meant marriage. Since his dream was to sail to Tahiti, I agreed, thinking our life together would be adventurous and house-free. Instead, we got hitched and settled into a house. To my surprise, Chris expected a full three-course dinner every night. I began checking books out of the library to learn how to cook. Six years later, after teaching first grade, we welcomed a baby girl. Once again, I turned to the library—this time for books on how to take care of a baby. Around the same time, our church started a mothers of preschoolers group, and I learned a great deal from being part of that community.

Still, there came a point when housework and family life felt overwhelming. That’s when I turned to God. I joined a Bible study and, later, prayer groups—especially after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Slowly, I learned that true self-esteem doesn’t come from perfection, achievements, or doing everything right. It comes from seeking God. With His help, I began to develop the talents and abilities He had given me. He was shaping me, not into the world’s idea of success, but into His image—reflecting His character and fulfilling my divine purpose.

As Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

TO HUG OR NOT TO HUG THAT IS THE AWKWARD QUESTION

 

My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins never hugged as we were growing up. Physical affection just wasn’t part of our family culture.

But over time, something began to shift.

Our family of non-huggers slowly started to change. A family friend, Nan—a warm and outgoing transplant from Northern Ireland—would hug us without hesitation. Then a cousin married a woman who hugged. Later, a mom of one of my son's classmates greeted me with a hug. These huggers just couldn’t help themselves—it was in their nature.

That’s when I started to wonder: why hadn't hugging ever been part of our norm?

I tried to analyze the situation. Maybe our family avoided hugging because our ancestors had survived contagious diseases by keeping their distance. Or perhaps it was more psychological—maybe we were all engineers or scientists who preferred logic to physical connection. Were we completely non-tactile by design?

Then came a new perspective.

A friend mentioned that hugging is medicinal. That is, it’s actually healthy to hug. Some even say it lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and improves emotional well-being.

In faith communities, there's even discussion that the modern-day hug has replaced the “holy kiss” once practiced among early Christians. That’s a fascinating evolution in how people express warmth and connection. (Click here to find more thoughts on hugs.)

The Bible offers a beautiful image of embrace in Luke 15:20:

"And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."

It turns out—even in Scripture—a hug can say what words cannot.

GRANDPA CLAUDE: THE GRAMMAR GURU

 

The above newspaper clipping was published in the Spokesman Review some years ago, offering a fascinating window into a moment from our family history. The incident it describes took place while Grandpa Claude was working for the U.S. Post Office in downtown Spokane. A small controversy broke out when he posted a sign on the post office's revolving door that read “go slow.” What seemed like a simple notice sparked a flurry of public reaction—letters of complaint were written, letters of defense followed, and all were published in the Spokesman Review.

At the time, Grandpa held the position of assistant custodian. From what I understand, he was eventually promoted to superintendent. Learning that he had once been a schoolteacher helped me better appreciate his attention to proper grammar. In that light, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that he stood his ground on the phrasing of the sign.

Reading the article gave me a meaningful glimpse into what Grandpa was like back then—principled, precise, and quietly influential. It also brought to mind Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”

A Patriotic Journey: On Celebrating Independence Day

 

Independence Hall.  Photo's by Bobbi

As we celebrate Independence Day, I’m reminded of our family trip to the East Coast back in 1991. After a brief but meaningful tour of Washington, D.C., we continued on to Philadelphia—rich in history and significance to our nation’s founding.

One of the highlights was our visit to Independence Hall. Walking through that historic site, I couldn’t help but reflect on the profound work accomplished there by our Founding Fathers—work that, I believe, could only have been done with Providential help. It was Benjamin Franklin, after all, who famously called for prayer during the Constitutional Convention.

Following that inspiring experience, we took a carriage ride through the historic district. While I appreciated the charm and character of the area, I was disheartened by the visible damage and graffiti. It gave off a sense of neglect and unease—as if gangs had claimed parts of this treasured space. Still, we made it safely through and ended our tour with a visit to the Liberty Bell, a stirring symbol of freedom.

That trip left a lasting impression on me. I’m still amazed that the United States continues to be a beacon of hope for nations seeking liberty. May we always stand in the gap for those who long to be free.

Happy 4th of July. May "Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,"

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Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!