Dearest Rachel – I mentioned yesterday morning about how there was a threat of rain for the day that I would be on pila duty. The morning dawned grey and something beyond overcast, although as breakfast progressed, the sun slowly made its presence known, in defiance of the weather predictions. There was this brief thoughtContinue reading “Ankle Deep in the Big Muddy”
Author Archives: randy@letters-to-rachel.memorial
It’s Easier In Minecraft
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday was a day of trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing here. I’m scheduled to work on building pilas – those concrete water basins that hold something like a hundred gallons or so that Just One is trying to supply to as many homes in El Socorro asContinue reading “It’s Easier In Minecraft”
El Mismo, Pero No
Dearest Rachel – We’re basically settled in here now in Siguatepeque. It’s the same place that we’ve stayed at before (and I dare say that we always will; Just One seems to have some sort of relationship with the folks running this place. I want to say it’s a family-owned business, but I could beContinue reading “El Mismo, Pero No”
The Hardest Part is Getting There
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve heard this phrase about travel but, apart from leisure trip, where once you arrive, it’s nothing but rest and relaxation, I’m not sure I agree. If nothing else, flights tend to be boring and nondescript; once they’re over and done with, they almost manage to escape memory instantly (forContinue reading “The Hardest Part is Getting There”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part four)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“If you at the moment are not experiencing this warfare, do not be lulled into complacency… His goal is to break your fellowship with your God and render youContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part four)”
Leaving You Behind, Taking You With
Dearest Rachel – As we’re preparing to head out to the Just One headquarters in Honduras, we’ve been advised not to bring along anything that would announce that it (or we) are worth money. To be sure, there’s no preventing me from taking my computer; if nothing else, I need it to conduct my lessonContinue reading “Leaving You Behind, Taking You With”
Five Years On
Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain point at which it feels like commemorating the day of the year in which you suddenly had to go home is like picking at a longstanding, grievous wound. It’s not going to heal if I keep at it like this – although one would think that, if it’s onlyContinue reading “Five Years On”
The Last ‘Warm’ Day
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday was the last ‘warm’ day before I leave town. From here on out, the highs – the highs, mind you – will be in the single digits Fahrenheit, if not at or below zero. I’ve heard talk about schools closing, despite the fact that it’s actually going to be tooContinue reading “The Last ‘Warm’ Day”
Trivial Pursuit
Dearest Rachel – I suppose I should have written you about this last Saturday, as opposed to waiting until now. Still, do I get partial credit for bringing it up at all, despite this being so late? It is significant, as it’s the first time all six of us had been able to get togetherContinue reading “Trivial Pursuit”
Could It Have Been You?
Dearest Rachel – For all that you into the color purple for most of our life together (for a while while you were at college, it seemed that you favored unicorns and rainbows, but somewhere along the line – I can’t recall when or why – you centered on the one single color, for someContinue reading “Could It Have Been You?”
Where It’s Warm and Comfortable
Dearest Rachel – After having folded it up to allow Kris room to work in the bedroom when she came over to clean on Friday, I finally got around to reassembling the treadmill last night upon our return home from Sparks. I figured I would wake up early this morning, like I usually do, andContinue reading “Where It’s Warm and Comfortable”
The Shoe Finally Dropped
Dearest Rachel – There are days when I find myself wondering why I bother filling you in on the details of what’s going on here on the planet that you left behind. Whether it’s finances or the house or what could laughingly be referred to as my love life, what does any of it matterContinue reading “The Shoe Finally Dropped”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“The Devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery; he tempted them to live independent of God – this is soContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)”
Uninstalling the Plan
Dearest Rachel – It was a week and a half ago when Lars and I wrapped up our usual walk through the woods with lunch at our favorite gyro place (they make their own in-house – and you can really tell the difference from one of those places that use the commercial providers like KronosContinue reading “Uninstalling the Plan”
Piled High
Dearest Rachel – It’s been so long, and I’ve had to do this for myself for these past five years, that I can’t remember what, if any, system you had regarding laundry. I know you separated colors from whites – every college-bound male is warned about mixing them and winding up with pink socks fromContinue reading “Piled High”
How’d He Raise Such a Cynic?
Dearest Rachel – When I go in to the ‘office’ these days, especially on days like this when I don’t have anything pressing in terms of actual ‘work,’ half my job, if you can call it that, is to simply hang around with and chat up my folks for a while (as well as movingContinue reading “How’d He Raise Such a Cynic?”
Topless in the Snow
Dearest Rachel – I’ve discovered something curious about the treadmill I’ve bought to use here at home on days when it’s too cold or I’m otherwise unmotivated to make my way to the gym in the morning: the thing is apparently an energy vampire. Over the course of the last week, I’ve blown a fuseContinue reading “Topless in the Snow”
The ‘Dragon Face’
Dearest Rachel – It was one of those weird dreams that came to me last night. I’m not sure if it can be fleshed out for you in the limited time between waking up and its dissipation, but I’ll try. The story seemed to center on a girl born in either China or Indochina; whileContinue reading “The ‘Dragon Face’”
Money-day Morning
Dearest Rachel – It’s Monday morning; the day and time that seems to bring dread to all. The restful period of the weekend is over, and we have to get back to school or work or whatever our weekly routine looks like, whether we’re ready for it or not. Despite having gone to bed beforeContinue reading “Money-day Morning”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part two)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“A parent’s own inconsistency, anger, moodiness, materialism, sensuality, or deception can be a far more serious stumbling block to the teen’s life than whatever problems … the parent isContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part two)”
Before Common Days Become Legend
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I’ve been told that things will eventually work out in life; and to be fair, I’ve little to complain about, when compared to the general human condition. As discussed so many times before with you, I’ve got what I would consider to be “enough” in terms of theContinue reading “Before Common Days Become Legend”
AC-DC and the Beach Boys
Dearest Rachel – No, I didn’t wake up with either of these groups’ (and doesn’t the combination sound like an interesting band name in and of itself?) music in my head this morning, like a proper earworm. But I realized that I’d started off the day – ended last night, in fact – by givingContinue reading “AC-DC and the Beach Boys”
Confiding in Copilot
Dearest Rachel – After putting in ten miles plus of walking yesterday, between the treadmill at home and the walk in the woods with Lars, I probably should have just said goodnight to the boys and let myself drift off to sleep once I got home yesterday evening, so I could wake up first thingContinue reading “Confiding in Copilot”
Christmas Cake
Dearest Rachel – Over the weekend leading up to Christmas, I needed to go out to get various ingredients for the cooking assignments I’d taken upon myself for both the family party on the Sunday prior and Christmas brunch itself. As is my wont, I can never go through a grocery store and only getContinue reading “Christmas Cake”
So There’s This Girl…
Dearest Rachel – For a moment, I actually thought this could be a possibility, too. I mean, it made sense in the moment. So there’s this girl who was essentially working as a greeter at church this weekend. We’ve spoken before – in fact, she’s come up to me, rather than the other way aroundContinue reading “So There’s This Girl…”
Healthy at Home
Dearest Rachel – I think part of the problem with this past weekend was that, when I previously would attempt to fast for the entire length of a given Sunday, I would grab a reasonable lunch on Saturday before showing up at church for rehearsal. This time around, I basically had breakfast – a bowlContinue reading “Healthy at Home”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part one)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“…we still possess a residual effect of that ‘old man’ even after salvation. We still have an indwelling principle of sin in us that corrupts every part of us.Continue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part one)”
Getting Back to Fasting
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before – and you remember from the twisted Christmas carols we used to listen to, particularly on our way to and from your parents’, back in the day – how the past couple of weeks’ holidays do a number on one’s resolve toward keeping fit. Bad enough that the weekendContinue reading “Getting Back to Fasting”
Double Header
Dearest Rachel – To address the question you wouldn’t have to ask if you were actually present – since conversation with a live person doesn’t require adding titles to one’s topics – yes, this is about sports in general, but no, this doesn’t have to do with baseball, from whence the term itself hails. You’dContinue reading “Double Header”
“See You Next Year!”
Dearest Rachel – It’s the jocular expression used of a New Year’s Eve when departing a place and taking your leave of some people you expect to see soon enough, but not until at least the next morning; the joke, of course, being that the following day will be part of the the following year.Continue reading ““See You Next Year!””
A Sucker for the Ads
Dearest Rachel – It’s become something of a running joke in the audio-visual booth at church, where the guys know and deal with my erratic schedule; every time I return from a trip to my duties back there, I’m immediately asked, “so, when’s your next cruise?” as if I have something already in the pipelineContinue reading “A Sucker for the Ads”
Not Sure We’re Gonna Make It
Dearest Rachel – I have this sneaking suspicion that you’d be so disappointed in us all… Tomorrow, as you may or may not know (since I have no idea how time works on your side of the veil, and whether you even keep track of it, when there’s no point to in the middle ofContinue reading “Not Sure We’re Gonna Make It”
Still Doing it the Old-Fashioned Way
Dearest Rachel – I can’t remember if you were still around at the time – some things feel like they happened so long ago, but given our circumstances, I can’t prove to myself they were that long ago anymore – but at some point, my folks got rid of their old snowblower for a smallerContinue reading “Still Doing it the Old-Fashioned Way”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part five)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“You must have a working knowledge of the doctrine of progressive sanctification and must, by God’s grace, be practicing it in your own life.“Understand that God has called everyContinue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part five)”
What Makes Us Tick
Dearest Rachel – You might think that, by waking up with such a title for this morning’s letter, I’d be announcing some great theory of existence to you. A grand purpose for humanity or, on an individual basis, an explanation for what keeps each of us going, day after day. But no. I’d like toContinue reading “What Makes Us Tick”
Be Here All the Earlier the Next Morning…
Dearest Rachel – You’ll recall Scrooge’s admonition to Bob Cratchit after reluctantly giving him the day off (with pay!) for Christmas. While some versions have Bob reminding Scrooge that he can’t conduct business on Christmas, as all other businesses he would otherwise deal with would be closed, it wasn’t as if the practice of ‘holidayContinue reading “Be Here All the Earlier the Next Morning…”
Enforced Sabbath
Dearest Rachel – This was going to be titled ‘Peace on Earth(?)’ or some such, with an extended acknowledgment that the earth isn’t necessarily peaceful on this day any more than any other (although the fine print on the angels’ proclamation about peace and goodwill to men specified that it applied to those ‘with whomContinue reading “Enforced Sabbath”
Strange Fire on the Candle
Dearest Rachel – As with so many stories I try to relate to you about the happenings around me, I’d like to think this would amuse you. It’s always better to see the humor in the misadventures of life than to be annoyed (or angered) by them; if nothing else, the latter doesn’t solve anything,Continue reading “Strange Fire on the Candle”
Every Single Verse
Dearest Rachel – One of the things that we kept of yours throughout the purge of the house during that first year after your passing was your collection of church hymnals and songbooks. Many of them have hymns organized by subject: the story of salvation, praise to God, appeals for help, and so forth. AndContinue reading “Every Single Verse”
Thoughts on Christmas Adam
Dearest Rachel – I had to go back through all the titles of all the letters I sent you to make sure I hadn’t reused this one (although this site seems willing to allow for duplications, I still consider it bad form to repeat myself, even after all this time). It turns out that thisContinue reading “Thoughts on Christmas Adam”
The Season of the Swan
Dearest Rachel – They say that the swan, for all its apparent grace as it glides atop the water whenever one sees it, is churning its webbed feet furiously underneath the surface, where the frenzy can’t be seen. Such is the way things are at this time of year for us all, honey – orContinue reading “The Season of the Swan”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part four)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“When God gives a child to a Christian couple, they must realize that their little bundle of joy is essentially a pagan – Wow, that’s so true, yet soContinue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part four)”
We’ll Never Get the Answers
Dearest Rachel – This past Thursday, Daniel and I stayed quite a bit later at the folks’ house after dinner than we normally do. Often, we’ll stick around and watch a bit of the news with them until the first commercial, at which point, we’ll bundle up their trash and roll the bins out toContinue reading “We’ll Never Get the Answers”
Baby, You Can Drive My Car
Dearest Rachel – Look, I remember full well, going back to when we were exchanging mix tapes, that you didn’t like to be referred to as ‘baby’ or ‘babe’ (although in my defense, I’ll point out that it was you that sent me the titular song by Styx along with your explanation spelling this distasteContinue reading “Baby, You Can Drive My Car”
A Change of Terrain
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday saw me and Lars meeting for our usual walk in the woods. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, apart from the exchanging of Christmas presents that is part of the current season (I was rather pleased about finding something for him, as it was something that’s always been made inContinue reading “A Change of Terrain”
Slightly Naked
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing that would have freaked you out in the moment – because it’s so out of character, and begs at least one significant question – and then given you something of a laugh afterward, once everything had resolved itself. It certainly did as much for me, onceContinue reading “Slightly Naked”
So Far From Normal
Dearest Rachel – It was a running joke where we went to college (and eventually, where you and I met); by dint of being located in Bloomington, Illinois, we were by definition “as close to Normal as you could get” without actually quite being there. Geographically (and thus technically) true, but we certainly had ourContinue reading “So Far From Normal”
Frozen In
Dearest Rachel – It so happens that one of the members of the praise team at the church is from Florida – in fact, she’s Brian’s niece, and therefore a relative of ours, albeit a time or two removed – and isn’t used to the weather here (to be sure, no one gets used toContinue reading “Frozen In”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“Failure to cooperate with God in the three responsibilities in the power of the spirit accounts for every failure in Christian living – why we’re here (doing this study,Continue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part three)”
Just Not My Scene
Dearest Rachel – You probably know what’s coming here. Back in the day I always used to believe that I wasn’t a picky eater; given a situation where it was called on to be polite, I’m able to eat anything… and yet, somehow I wind up balking when confronted with some of your mom’s cooking.Continue reading “Just Not My Scene”
Sitting On the Pain Scale
Dearest Rachel – The problem with emotions and feelings is that it’s difficult to explain what one is feeling in a way that another person would understand exactly. Oh, we might be able to give a general idea to an audience what something feels like – and usually, that’s the best we can hope forContinue reading “Sitting On the Pain Scale”
Can’t Bring Myself to Worry
Dearest Rachel – I never got into it with you – you used to watch them while I was at work and Daniel at school – but I know you were into certain varieties of horror for entertainment. I think it reminded you of those days when your Mom was away with one seminar orContinue reading “Can’t Bring Myself to Worry”
Screwing Up the Schedule
Dearest Rachel – No sooner did I hit ‘publish’ on yesterday‘s letter when two things happened to upend my day. First of all, “Riri” wrote back, right after I got through telling you all the reasons why she wouldn’t. I still promise to tell you more about that, but on top of her explanations (someContinue reading “Screwing Up the Schedule”
Walls of Meaningless Text
Dearest Rachel – Lynda Barry, underground cartoonist and one of Matt Groening’s mentors and inspirations, once described love as “an exploding cigar we willingly smoke.” Considering your and my distaste for tobacco in the first place (although you might remember my claim that cigar smoke, in small doses, is redolent of childhood trips to WrigleyContinue reading “Walls of Meaningless Text”
Susan Amid the Wreckage
Dearest Rachel – Weekends are the ‘slow news days’ of my life; and while we need days like that on a regular basis, it does cut into anything that I might have to tell you about. There is the fact that five out of six of us managed to get together yesterday afternoon at aContinue reading “Susan Amid the Wreckage”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part two)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you. “Our Lord did not… – but these are byproducts of godliness, not primary goals for the Christian life – This is an important distinction to keep a goodContinue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part two)”
Plausible From One Angle
Dearest Rachel – It may not seem like it, since I’ve been able to contact you every day with some news or other, but there’s been a limited amount of stuff going on for me to tell you about. The fact that I can write to you at all has more to do with beingContinue reading “Plausible From One Angle”
The Questions That Go Unasked
Dearest Rachel – This morning – although when it’s this dark, if feels strange to call it such, even if this is just the way things are in the winter – as I got up and braced myself to head out to the gym, it occurred to me that the folks didn’t bother to askContinue reading “The Questions That Go Unasked”
Don’t Tell Me How Cold It Is
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday, I met Lars to go walking through the woods, as we do every week. This, despite the fact that it was below freezing and there was the threat of snow that day – in fact, for most of the time we were out there, we were dealing with a fairContinue reading “Don’t Tell Me How Cold It Is”
Keep Your Head Down, Keep Your Mouth Shut
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know why – I never do, because no one can understand dream logic once they’re awake – but last night saw me hitchhiking across Canada, of all places. It was during their football season (which ended several weeks ago in real life, so the timing of this dream is aContinue reading “Keep Your Head Down, Keep Your Mouth Shut”
Not Me, Virginia
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to remind you about events like Crazy Hair Night at Sparks; it was one of those ‘theme’ nights that you always used to make a point of participating in… As for myself, I didn’t throw myself into these theme nights with your level of abandon. Part of this wasContinue reading “Not Me, Virginia”
The Lists We Still Need to Deal With
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s just how things work in the American holiday calendar, I suppose. We no sooner get through with one that, by name and nature, reminds us to be both content and grateful for what we have, than we begin on the one whose whole purpose seems to be the diametric oppositeContinue reading “The Lists We Still Need to Deal With”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you. “‘And most important, will it stir within them a thirst for God, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to represent Him well as salt in theContinue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change”
The Irony of Weekend Snow
Dearest Rachel – They tell us that we’re in for a real dose of winter starting today, and going well on into tomorrow, honey – somewhere in the neighborhood of six inches to a foot, depending on who you listen to. It’s that time of year, after all, and for all that I make anContinue reading “The Irony of Weekend Snow”
Dreams of Alter Egos
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while since I’ve had a dream worth telling you about (and had both the time to write it down before it dissipated and no real topic to discuss with you that might supersede it). The problem is, while it may have answered a long-known problem of science fiction whileContinue reading “Dreams of Alter Egos”
Half the Holiday
Dearest Rachel – I was getting serious flashbacks from 2020 yesterday morning, honey. You remember that year; we’d all been tested for Covid before Thanksgiving, for the sake of the folks (and, I think, at the recommendation, if not requirement, of the government when it came to such gatherings at the time). Yours and Daniel’sContinue reading “Half the Holiday”
The List We All Need To Make
Dearest Rachel – I don’t really need to tell you about all this, since I already did at the time (and basically in the moment – which means that the story I related over the course of several letters may have been clouded by my emotions at the time, for obvious reasons), but during thatContinue reading “The List We All Need To Make”
Not a Time to Experiment
Dearest Rachel – The holiday season is upon us once again, honey, and as the sun takes that much more time off than it did when we were in Israel (where it’s so much more noticeable, since we can’t sightsee in the dark. Here at home, there’s still plenty to do when evening falls, andContinue reading “Not a Time to Experiment”
Still Not There Yet
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been writing to you a lot this past week about our difficulties in getting ourselves acclimated to our home time zone; it’s just under a week now, and we’re still not there yet. Compare that to our trip out, where we basically fell in line with the local time after aContinue reading “Still Not There Yet”
The Missing Third
Dearest Rachel – Another day, another evening of falling asleep on either side of the bed in our separate recliners while watching YouTube together, and another morning that essentially starts at one a.m., whether I mean for it to or not. We’re not still on Israel time, I don’t think, but we’re probably on GreenlandContinue reading “The Missing Third”
from Rachel: Time Gives Way to Eternity
Please read Revelation 20:1-6 and answer the following questions: Where will Satan be during the thousand-year reign of Christ? “the Abyss” Many people of God will be martyred during the terrible time of tribulation. List everything this segment of Scripture tells you about them. “They had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus (20:4),Continue reading “from Rachel: Time Gives Way to Eternity”
Just the Two of Us
Dearest Rachel – Ordinarily, upon waking up to darkness, assuming (as has been the case for the last couple of days since returning home) that’s it’s just an hour or two before I would normally get up of a Saturday, only to discover that it’s actually barely two in the morning, would be cause forContinue reading “Just the Two of Us”
Sānùk (สนุก) and Suffering
Dearest Rachel – I’ve got a lot of stuff to take care of today – much of which built up while I was overseas, and some of which even has to do with this trip and others in the near future – and while I was contemplating it all, this word popped into my head.Continue reading “Sānùk (สนุก) and Suffering”
Oh, The Places We Didn’t See
Dearest Rachel – In some ways, I don’t know how we managed it back in the day; before you were able to let me retire, we tended to be short on time, because even though I was given five weeks of vacation time after so many years of service, it was hard to squeeze suchContinue reading “Oh, The Places We Didn’t See”
Not Ready for Central Time
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside that he’s dealing with the cold that he caught on the last day or so of the trip (which I may very well catch soon enough, and is why, despite it being Thursday, we won’t be over at the folks’ place for dinner this evening. Dad is getting more andContinue reading “Not Ready for Central Time”
Early Morning Epilogue
Dearest Rachel – Travel is like this sometimes; flights take off at the weirdest hours, and one has to be up and out in order to catch them. So it is with us; after writing you last night about the activities of yesterday, Daniel and I bundled ourselves off to bed (at nine-thirty, which wasContinue reading “Early Morning Epilogue”
The Beginning of the End
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if my body caught wind of my concerns about waking up early enough tomorrow to meet in the lobby at two in the morning, but rather than let me have a solid night’s sleep, it decided to prove what it was capable of. As a result, when I firstContinue reading “The Beginning of the End”
Letting Things Unfold As They Will
Dearest Rachel – We didn’t go out on the town last night since, as I mentioned, we really didn’t have any compelling reason to go out. As a result – as well as calling it a relatively early night – we actually woke up this morning before the alarm (which admittedly was set a bitContinue reading “Letting Things Unfold As They Will”
A Series of Ascents
Dearest Rachel – The last dozen or so of the Psalms are referred to as “songs of ascents,” as they’re meant to be sung while en route to the city of Jerusalem, which is, as you’ll recall, built on the top of a mountain (Mount Zion, or going even further back, Mount Moria, where AbrahamContinue reading “A Series of Ascents”
from Rachel: The Everlasting Kingdom
from Rachel: The Everlasting Kingdom – It’s weird, now that you’re already there, to see your comments on what you imagine heaven to be like, and what you most look forward to about it…
A Shabbat from the World
A Shabbat from the World – It would seem that the Shabbat includes a disconnection from electronic devices and the news. I don’t know how well I could do that, myself.
It All Goes South From Here
Dearest Rachel – One last morning in Ginosar, and an early one at that; we’re leaving at a quarter to eight (which doesn’t sound like much of a difference from the last couple of days, except that it doesn’t give us time to get back to the room after eating breakfast. Oh well) for theContinue reading “It All Goes South From Here”
Only So Much Daylight
Dearest Rachel – You don’t need to be reminded about this (if for no other reason, you haven’t to deal with these issues anymore, having left this world behind and living outside of time these days), but it’s like so many other situation; when you’re away from a thing, you forget what it’s like toContinue reading “Only So Much Daylight”
Blame it On the Rain
Dearest Rachel – Friday morning in Ginosar – yes, somewhere along the way, I seem to have lost a day – and while I keep hoping to be able to wander about the hotel campus (and maybe find the duplex we stayed in back in 2018), I’m still short on time to do so. The hourContinue reading “Blame it On the Rain”
Greetings From the Cat House
Dearest Rachel – One of the things I wasn’t expecting at our lodging in Ginosar was that the place is… well, I wouldn’t say overrun, as such, but surprisingly populated with cats. To be sure, the existence of semi-feral cats in a place serves a purpose; we’ve just been dealing with a mouse problem atContinue reading “Greetings From the Cat House”
On the Way Out and Up
Dearest Rachel – Wednesday morning, and we’re up and out after an hour’s breakfast. Daniel and I try to eat as early as possible to finish putting ourselves together afterwards, but we barely make it to the bus by our scheduled departure time. You would have been, maybe not so much proud, as understanding of ourContinue reading “On the Way Out and Up”
If it’s Tuesday, We Must be Northbound
Dearest Rachel – It’s always a scramble for us to get out of our first hotel in Israel, as you remember. Not only is it our best accommodations of the trip (not to condemn the other locations, but how do you top a suite overlooking the Mediterranean? This is as close as we get toContinue reading “If it’s Tuesday, We Must be Northbound”
Chicken and Cheese
Dearest Rachel – I wonder if Yael remembers the two of us as the “chicken and cheese” father-and-son duo. When I meet someone I consider knowledgeable about one topic or another – especially one that I may never see again – I feel the need to make an impression by asking a question that wouldContinue reading “Chicken and Cheese”
The Return of the Non-Native
The Return of the Non-Native – I’m back here in Israel, but I can’t say I know what to do once I’m here…
Cleared for Takeoff
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned in my last letter that there might be an issue with the actual flight, but it might require a separate letter, because I wanted to send something (which you can read as “continue my streak,” which I’m sure you would be understanding about) before we left, whereas the details ofContinue reading “Cleared for Takeoff”
Leaving Just In Time
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday morning, I woke up to this sight as I headed outdoors on the way to church: I suppose it shouldn’t have come as so much of a surprise; the night before had me falling asleep to the sound of rain on the bedroom roof, and it had been getting chilly asContinue reading “Leaving Just In Time”
from Rachel: The Arrogant Enemy of God
What two kings will rise up against this figure ‘at the time of the end’ (v. 40)? “the king of the South and the king of the North” How do you specifically guard against self-exaltation? In other words, when you come under this exact temptation, what keeps you from falling for it? “I’m not sureContinue reading “from Rachel: The Arrogant Enemy of God”
So Many Random Little Thoughts
Dearest Rachel – Some days, I wake up in the wee hours of the morning with no desire for anything but to roll over and go back to sleep. I thought this morning was going to be the same – especially given that today is a Saturday; who wakes up early on a Saturday? ButContinue reading “So Many Random Little Thoughts”
House Calls
Dearest Rachel – So I’m taking the day off from the ‘office,’ as I managed to get everything done that I’d intended to yesterday. At the same time, I’ve got lots of stuff to do here at home, such as laundry and packing for Monday’s flight out. And, as it so happens, I have toContinue reading “House Calls”
Speedrunning Life
Dearest Rachel – It was a weird realization to catch myself in last night. I’d just gotten the bank statements for the church and camp for last month, so I was thinking about how I could get everything reconciled and the statements prepared some time today. That way, the board members could have the dataContinue reading “Speedrunning Life”
No Happy Endings
Dearest Rachel – It’s something that one doesn’t see every day (which is why I’m writing to you about it, after all), although I’m now going to see it every day for at least the next week or so. I was walking to the gym on Monday morning, and spotted this outside the office complexContinue reading “No Happy Endings”
They… Pray!
Dearest Rachel – I realize just how silly this statement sounds as I’m preparing to type it, but it has to be said; there are times when I have no idea what my mind is thinking. That would seem completely oxymoronic on its face; it’s my mind, I’m inside of it, I am it, inContinue reading “They… Pray!”
To Mess About the City
Dearest Rachel – Given that it was an interesting way to spend part of the weekend – and that these letters are, in part, a means for me to record the days of my life since you left, because I’ve discovered how quickly my memories fade if I don’t – I would be remiss ifContinue reading “To Mess About the City”
from Rachel: A Vile King’s Succession
One of our chief goals in this study of Daniel is to become familiar with the basic themes of each chapter. Recall as many of our chapter rhymes as you can…Daniel One: Carried “off to Babylon”Daniel Two: “Neb’s Dream” StatueDaniel Three: From a “Fiery” Furnace “Freed”Daniel Four: I’ll “Humble Neb” Some MoreDaniel Five: Says theContinue reading “from Rachel: A Vile King’s Succession”
Not Done Out Of Boredom
Dearest Rachel – While I’m specifically writing to you with these letters – complete with references to things only you would know from actual experience – I’m well aware that there are people reading this over your shoulder. It’s what happens when you put something out on the internet; someone else will stumble across itContinue reading “Not Done Out Of Boredom”
Letters to Rachel 