Evergreen Connection
Her Light is Now Full
I received the message Sunday evening: Janet Straub passed peacefully from this life and was now safely home. Our dear friend and sister bravely fought cancer for two years, continually trusting her health to the Lord and seeking to fulfill his purposes in her suffering. As her health gradually declined, Janet steadily increased her confidence […]
Continue ReadingFear God and Honor the King
Governor Inslee last Sunday issued a new list of statewide restrictions to help stem the tide of coronavirus as it has been surging across our land. There was a bit of irony the announcement was made at 11am on a Sunday, since a portion of the new restrictions apply to the activities of churches. My […]
Continue ReadingA Pledge I Give Allegiance To
I do my best to offer perspective in this column that I pray will be helpful for our church body, but there are times I read a piece by someone else and think, “There’s no way I could say it better.” Such was my response when I read an article written the day after the […]
Continue ReadingI’m Voting For James
Today is Election Day, and it is a lot like the Superbowl: A climactic national contest that grabs the attention of our entire country. Some are really into it and will gather at various watch parties with fellow fans sporting team gear. Others are more casual fans who will simply track results on their own […]
Continue ReadingWhat To Do This Election
I had a feeling that title would pique your interest! Why? Because for most, politics produce passion, elections equal emotion. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but it certainly can be. In fact, it can be a very, very bad thing. If you’re reading this, it’s almost certainly because you’re a Christian or you may […]
Continue ReadingWill You Pray and Fast?
Recently, God has been teaching me a lot about the priority of prayer. In fact, I went on a prayer walk today and asked Him if I should lead a time of prayer in response to Franklin Graham’s call for a “Day of Prayer and Fasting”. I believe God confirmed this in my heart. Thus, […]
Continue ReadingEntertaining Angels
I was sitting here in my office staring at the blank Word document as the rain peppered the window, wondering what I should write. I was sifting a handful of possibilities when I heard the front door close. Assuming it was one another staff member, I resumed my deliberation. Sometime later I was walking through […]
Continue ReadingGlimpse of a Fire Mission
The pictures and video of the recent wildfires are wrenching, but last night it was a verbal description that moved me deeply. This is day two of the three-day IFCA pastors conference Evergreen is hosting and we have about 50 colleagues in ministry from around the Pacific Northwest. Nate Shinn and his wife Muriel live […]
Continue ReadingSons and Daughters of the King
Last night, Emily and I were sitting down on the couch waiting for our daughter, Eleanor, to get sleepy. Like usual, it was 9 pm and she was wide awake, happy as could be. We’ve started trying to go through a nightly “family worship” bedtime routine, in hopes that it will lull her into peaceful […]
Continue ReadingOrphans, Aliens, Refugees and the Displaced
When we became Christians, we went from orphans to aliens. Strange huh? And isn’t it especially weird to think of ourselves as “aliens”? I can’t help it; when I hear that term, my mind always first thinks of those little green creatures from outer space. But the dictionary defines an alien as “a foreigner, especially […]
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