HAPPY REFORMATION DAY

Lutheran church Gothenburg, Sweden photo by Chris

Martin Luther (1483-1546) posted 95 theses, on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.  Thus started the Protestant Reformation. 

What caused the ruckus was his reading of Romans.  Romans 1:17 states--  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 revealed to Luther that righteousness before God is a gift received through faith, not something earned through good deeds or church rituals.This insight led him to reject the idea that salvation could be influenced by indulgences—payments to the Catholic Church that were said to reduce punishment for sin. Luther’s famous 95 Theses were written largely in protest against the sale of indulgences. He argued that forgiveness and salvation are entirely God’s grace, not something that can be bought or earned.

 As the Bible was translated into many languages people were able to read the Bible for themselves.   

If you haven't already -- pick up a Bible and read it for yourself.  You will be glad you did.

Acts 17:11  Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

ABIDING

Me downtown Spokane about 1945

Spokane, WA was called the Inland Empire. Dad jokingly called it the “ingrown empire.” It was kind of a little big town — small enough that people knew each other, yet large enough to feel important. The city grew up around the Spokane River and became a center for lumber, agriculture, and banking.

Although my parents grew up in the area, our own family never lived there. Still, Spokane held a special place in our lives. We would visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins about once a year, and each trip carried its own memories and traditions.

One of the highlights of downtown Spokane was The Crescent Department Store. It was a favorite shopping destination for many. The store offered just about everything you could imagine—men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel; shoes; millinery (hats); furs; furniture; rugs; heating stoves and ranges; and all kinds of home goods, or “housewares,” as they were called then.

Among the many departments was the Record Department, where my mother-in-law, Rita, worked. She sold sound equipment and records to music lovers from all over. It wasn’t unusual for customers to hum a tune and ask her to find the record that matched. One day, however, a customer puzzled her by asking for a “monorail record.” Rita was baffled—until she realized the woman really wanted a monaural record!

Life at the Crescent was never dull. One particularly memorable day, a woman approached the record counter with a stack of albums and presented a Crescent Credit Card. Rita glanced at the name and froze—it read Isabel Stowell, my grandmother’s name. When Rita asked about it, the woman confidently claimed to be a granddaughter. Following the Crescent’s rule that “the customer is always right,” Rita completed the sale—but something didn’t sit right.

As soon as she could, Rita called me to ask if I had a cousin by that name. When I said “no,” she immediately alerted store security. They quickly caught the woman leaving the store with piles of merchandise from other departments. It turned out that while my grandmother was in the hospital, her credit card had been stolen.

Looking back, it’s clear that my grandmother had someone praying for her that day. God’s protection was woven through even that small drama at the department store.

John 15:7 — “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

MARRIAGE

 

August 7, 1965 Spokane, WA Evy, me, Chris, Janet, Davy or Wayne, Dianna

Finally, after 60 years of marriage, I have some marriage advice. Looking back, there are a few things I would do differently if I had the chance to start again.

To begin with, the very first thing I would do is make sure we both believed in Jesus as our Savior. That shared foundation in faith makes all the difference.

Next, I would go through a practical resource with my fiancé—Before You Say "I Do": A Marriage Guide for Couples by H. Norman Wright. Preparing together with a tool like this sets the stage for a stronger start.

The third thing I would do is make sure we both had jobs before we married. Chris and I made the mistake of not having employment in place, and that made our early years together more difficult than they needed to be.

In addition, I would recommend listening to Part One of Albert Mohler’s insightful podcast: His perspective sheds light on how cultural shifts have reshaped marriage today. Marriage Comes After Adult Milestones? It’s No Wonder We Face a Delay of Marriage Crisis

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So, after 60 years of marriage, here is my closing thought: marriage is a mystery and a miracle. It is not something we can do well on our own. The only way to do it right is with God’s help.

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
—Ephesians 5:32

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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.”