The crowds were thinned by early evening rains, still it was a Thursday night in downtown Kent. Thousands of college students (with surprisingly sparse schedules on Friday)… Dozens of clubs, bars, and run-down rental properties hosting their own parties… An … Continue reading
Dear Cor, Happy Birthday! There are some really nice things about having a birthday at this time of the year, aren’t there? This transition from summer to fall is just lovely: still warm enough to go around shirtless (as you … Continue reading
The Bible says we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. I’ve gotten better at this as I’ve gotten older — maybe partially due to diminishing reflexes, partially due to accumulated wisdom — but … Continue reading
The waterfalls in Iceland are awesome. Not “Awesome” in the sense that I used the word in high school (basically as a synonym for “Really good”) — but “Awesome” as in genuinely awe-inspiring, awe-inducing. Reading through all the guidebooks, I’d … Continue reading
White clouds tumble into white sheets of snow and ice, sliding down off the Öræfajökull, into the Fjallsárlón. It moves at a glacial pace because, of course, it’s a glacier. Still, I’m overwhelmed by the sight of this ice-covered volcano … Continue reading
ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, “The… who / what / which… is from you… man…” All right: look for the nominative, the verb, the prepositions, and shift the word order around accordingly. “Which of you men…” I’ve been taking … Continue reading
I’ll never forget the rush of adrenaline and air blowing through the windows of our vehicle, as we hurtled down the Interstate, south toward Florida. “SPRING BREAK ’97!” We yelled into the night air. It was a battle cry throughout … Continue reading
Dear Elliot, I hate to procrastinate, but I didn’t get the chance to sit down and start writing this letter until 11:00 PM on the evening before your birthday (and I didn’t get to finish it until a week later!)! … Continue reading
Do I take my faith too seriously? I’m saying “seriously” in the sense of solemnity, sobriety… Maybe “joylessly?” I’ve recently been considering Jesus’ words from the 9th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and I’ve felt challenged to get more serious … Continue reading
My thoughts have been tugged back to last Thursday night for more a whole week now. The air was cool with the first hint of autumn. A group of young women stood in a semi-circle. They wore strappy, stylish clothing … Continue reading
