Russellings of the Spirit

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  • For me?

    Joan and I (and Joan’s daughter Jessica) are in Puerto Rico for a few days, enjoying our first-ever trip to this island. What an amazing place! If you have never been, I highly recommend it. For Jessica, this is a… Continue reading

  • The Final Quarter

    Joan and I drove to my stepdaughter’s house in Ft. Collins, Colorado the other day. This involved driving across the entire state of Kansas, east to west, and then half the state of Colorado. It is a trip of roughly… Continue reading

  • Uncommonly Common

    If there is one thing we have proved conclusively in this country, it is that, contrary to the old saying, what’s good for the goose is NOT necessarily also good for the gander. At least that’s what the gander seems… Continue reading

  • Old Reliable

    It is good when things in life are reliable. Reliable cars, reliable friends, reliable sources of clean water and electricity, and reliable air-conditioning units on days like today are sources of great comfort and joy, aren’t they? It might even… Continue reading

  • In Defense of Thoughts and Prayers

    Let’s be clear right off the bat; science has shown that 86% of the time when people respond to a tragedy by offering their “thoughts and prayers,” it is a hollow sentiment. It sounds good. It sounds empathetic. It sounds… Continue reading

  • Mr. Tidy Guy

    I hate messes. I confess freely and fully to you now that I am a compulsive tidier-upper. Some (such as my loving wife) might even say I verge on being obsessive-compulsive about my tidying. Things lying around on the kitchen… Continue reading

  • At moments like this…

      “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26, NRSV Continue reading

  • Ash-A-Palooza 2019

    “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Matthew 19:30, NRSV I consider myself a committed, albeit deeply flawed, follower of Jesus Christ. I try to live my life by his example, in spite of failing and coming up short… Continue reading

  • “The Eagle has – in fact – landed.”

    As most of us take a moment today to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the landing of human beings on the surface of our moon, nearly 20 million of our neighbors are standing up yelling, “Fake news!” That’s right. According to… Continue reading

  • “Am I Safe Here?”

    “Am I safe here?” Think back; how many times have you asked yourself that question… today? … in the past week? … in the past month? Can you even remember the last time you asked this question? If you are… Continue reading