Dearest Rachel – I don’t think I’ve completely shaken off Basel Syndrome (which, upon re-reading that letter to you, I was surprised to discover that I’d defined it as more of an irrational preference for staying in my hotel room/cabin rather than going outside of it; whereas now, I think of it as a fearContinue reading “The Odd Preparations”
Monthly Archives: January 2024
Just Another Clout-Chaser
Dearest Rachel – I wasn’t the one to bring it up to my dad when I visited him yesterday, but I’d already read the news item about the fellow when Dad broached the subject. Not that it should surprise me (although it did, since I assumed that most of the folks there would likely be myContinue reading “Just Another Clout-Chaser”
Publication Jitters
Dearest Rachel – When I first set this website up, and decided to write you daily letters, I found myself having to think long and hard about nearly every word that I wrote down. In fact, the first few letters were almost completely written out in longhand on paper before I ever committed anything to theContinue reading “Publication Jitters”
from Rachel: A View From the Old
Pause and ask God to give you deep insight into His Word today. Now read Isaiah 26:3-6 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Note every concept the two passages have in common. “demolishing strongholds and bringing them to utter destruction.” Note how the [following] three passages demonstrate that Satan deals directly with the human mind. Mark 4:15 – “HeContinue reading “from Rachel: A View From the Old”
Accidental Mimosa
Dearest Rachel – There’s a place on the thoroughfare between our house and the folks’ place (as well as the church and the convalescent home Dad’s staying at) called Big Ange’s. It’s an authentic barbecue place, right down to the fact that it’s had its own smoker in the front of their parking lot for theContinue reading “Accidental Mimosa”
Proof of Concept
Dearest Rachel – I’ve concluded that there’s no way that I’m going to be able to tell you everything about my upcoming trip in so many words; pictures are going to be necessary, and perhaps moving pictures even more so. So between one thing and another, I’ve decided to put together short video letters to tellContinue reading “Proof of Concept”
A Future on This Planet
Dearest Rachel – This isn’t exactly breaking news, as far as today or yesterday goes; it’s been gradually getting to this point over time (albeit a relatively brief period of time). But I submit it to you as further proof of Dad’s improvement with regards to his health; when I’m visiting him, he likes toContinue reading “A Future on This Planet”
Getting Things in Order
Dearest Rachel – It’s incredible to realize that only a month ago, we were all gathered at dad‘s bedside while he went over with us where he kept instructions pertaining to his funeral. We really thought – as did he – that he would hang on just long enough to see his way through ChristmasContinue reading “Getting Things in Order”
To Commemorate the Year Gone By
Dearest Rachel – It’s been three years now. You’d think I would know how to deal with these anniversaries by now, but I don’t. And I wonder if I ever will. At this point, it’s gotten to where I’m treating the moment as if it were a second New Year’s, a time to reflect on theContinue reading “To Commemorate the Year Gone By”
Back in the Balcony
Dearest Rachel – It seems like half a lifetime ago (possibly because, when you come down to it, it was) that you and I would find ourselves in the church balcony of a Sunday morning. It wasn’t so much a matter of trying to be inconspicuous (although, when you’re carrying a small baby who mightContinue reading “Back in the Balcony”
from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love
Give at least five endings to the incomplete sentences, offering your own thoughts contrasting two children: one who believes he or she is loved and the other who does not. A child who believes he or she is loved… – “has confidence to go out into the world– “knows they can come home and beContinue reading “from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love”
The Sign of Jonah
·Evil and sinful people [L An evil/wicked and adulterous generation] ·ask for [seek; demand] a miracle as a sign, but they will not be given any sign, except the sign of Jonah [see 12:40; Jon. 1:17].” Then Jesus left them and went away. Matthew 16:4, Expanded Bible Dearest Rachel – To be sure, when Jesus invoked the name of Jonah, as aContinue reading “The Sign of Jonah”
What the Camera Can’t Catch
Dearest Rachel – I think it was one of the early Torchwood episodes – you’d actually remember it better than I would, since you were the Doctor Who fan of the family – that had a character wear a pair of contact lenses that would essentially livestream what they were seeing to the main groupContinue reading “What the Camera Can’t Catch”
Frozen, Not Forgotten
Dearest Rachel – Forgive me, honey, but I didn’t put out the garbage this week. The thing is, it’s not that I forgot to, as such… …it’s that it wouldn’t have mattered. You’ve heard me tell you several times over the past few days about how it’s been so absurdly cold, right? And of course, up untilContinue reading “Frozen, Not Forgotten”
The Hero’s Journey
Dearest Rachel – So, while I thought I had a moderately interesting real life story to tell you about from yesterday, I woke up this morning, knowing that I had to put it on hold, because what I saw last night just had to be told (before I forget it). Let’s start with the factContinue reading “The Hero’s Journey”
What Can You Do About the Weather?
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the first one to say it, but Mark Twain might have at least been responsible for popularizing the saying that “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” To be sure, it isn’t as if there’s a whole lot one can do about it; apartContinue reading “What Can You Do About the Weather?”
On the Same Frostbitten Wavelength
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that, intentionally or not, the gang has (mostly at my insistence) developed something of a habit of getting together at a splashy restaurant on or about the first of the year since you’ve been gone. It hasn’t been the same one each time – indeed, it’s been somewhere different everyContinue reading “On the Same Frostbitten Wavelength”
from Rachel: Failure to Believe God’s Unfailing Love
Why should not believing God personally and lavishly loves us be considered a sin? “Perhaps, again (see page 177) the extreme pridefulness of thinking one can out-sin God’s love, or maybe it’s belittling Him and the size of His love.” Think of someone (besides God) you are absolutely positive loves you. Who is this person? “Randy” ListContinue reading “from Rachel: Failure to Believe God’s Unfailing Love”
The Climbing Belt
Dearest Rachel – Not all nightmares could be considered universal; I’m pretty sure that my dream last night would have been enthusiastically embraced by at least one person I know, but the very idea scares the fertilizer out of me. I literally had to be coerced into doing it because if I didn’t, someone I knewContinue reading “The Climbing Belt”
Backing Away From the Brink
Dearest Rachel – The other day, after our usual walk from Harms Woods to New Trier H.S. and back, Lars and I decided to revisit a place we’d been to once before the holidays. It’s in his neck of the woods, but he’s not ordinarily a fan of what it offers – although in fairness toContinue reading “Backing Away From the Brink”
Still A Long Way From Normal
Dearest Rachel – It occurs to me that you’ll see that title, and assume I’m talking about how I’ve given up traveling downstate to visit your old home (and Twofeathers, who we gave possession of it to in thanks for the care she gave your folks – your mom in particular –in their final years,Continue reading “Still A Long Way From Normal”
Before I Dig Myself A Hole…
Dearest Rachel – And to think, I was going to send you a letter yesterday, griping about how the weather folk had thrown us all into a panic Monday night by claiming we were on the verge of getting hit by a Blizzard (yes, the capitalization is intentional – that’s the kind of storm theyContinue reading “Before I Dig Myself A Hole…”
In Limitations, There Are Strengths
Dearest Rachel – To be honest, honey, this letter is probably more geared for Dad than it is for you. When I left his room yesterday afternoon – because I had to collect Daniel and grab an early dinner before the evening’s Awana club – he insisted that I present him with a full reportContinue reading “In Limitations, There Are Strengths”
Easy On the Envelope
Dearest Rachel – On paper – or on the calendar, anyway – I gave up this weekend; I didn’t manage to fast at all. Both days saw me eating something, despite the fact that, apart from December (because, you know, parties and other holiday get-togethers), I’ve been trying to go without when I’m working the boothContinue reading “Easy On the Envelope”
from Rachel: The Fullness of Unfailing Love
Read 1 John 4:13-15. What happens when someone acknowledges that Jesus in the Son of God? “God lives in him (and he in God).” Can you think of a time when you were suddenly awash with the magnitude of God’s love for you personally? Describe it. “Beth’s story reminds me of [singing] ‘How Great Thou Art’ inContinue reading “from Rachel: The Fullness of Unfailing Love”
An Imbalance of Humours
Dearest Rachel – This is something of a delicate topic of discussion, but it is rather the one unusual thing that’s been going on within me – quite literally – the last couple of days, so I’m going to try to tread as carefully as I can in describing the situation. I’m not going toContinue reading “An Imbalance of Humours”
I Just Can’t Even “Imagine”
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure that, once upon a New Year’s Rockin’ Eve of yore, when we actually watched those sorts of things live on the television rather than on some stream across the internet, you and I saw, just before the ball began its minute-long decent to the roof of the Flatiron Building,Continue reading “I Just Can’t Even “Imagine””
As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up
Dearest Rachel – My scale didn’t groan when I stepped on it – after all this time, it’s certainly seen (and felt) much worse – but I rather did inwardly to see my highest weight of the year. And yes, I know that’s a ridiculously short span of time, which sounds longer than it is (hadContinue reading “As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up”
Of Salt Cellars and Selfie Sticks
Dearest Rachel – I realize I’m not the easiest person to shop for, in terms of Christmas presents. It’s even worse when I come up with ideas that are either too late or too esoteric (or both) to hunt down in time. But sometimes, that’s what happens; I come up with an idea long after I should,Continue reading “Of Salt Cellars and Selfie Sticks”
When a Holiday Isn’t
Dearest Rachel – Every so often, I’m struck by the surprising fact that most of our holidays actually still track with the origin of the word – “holy day.” Sure, almost all of them have been secularized and commercialized within an inch of their lives, but many of them still can trace their roots to aContinue reading “When a Holiday Isn’t”
Sub-Celestial Homesick Blues
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure when exactly we got into listening to Bob Dylan; certainly, it was long after his real moment had passed (although considerably before the Nobel Committee noticed him, so we were at least ahead of those old fogies). Not that we could help it; his peak was before we wereContinue reading “Sub-Celestial Homesick Blues”
Letters to Rachel 