Dearest Rachel – For all that our walks take up a large swath of time in a given day, there’s not a whole lot to be related to you about when Lars and I get together. On the contrary, there’s generally something of a “what happens here stays here” ethos to it all, where what’sContinue reading “Workout at Woodfield”
Author Archives: randy@letters-to-rachel.memorial
Something He Can Call His Own
Dearest Rachel – Well, I promised I would tell you about it, and here we are; after over five years of driving your car around, Daniel finally has a car he can call his own. It has everything he wanted in a car (which, admittedly, wasn’t much to begin with, but thus far, he hasn’tContinue reading “Something He Can Call His Own”
What Passes for Productivity
Dearest Rachel – I had this title in mind when I was on my way to the ‘office’ yesterday morning; if I could get everything accomplished that I had in mind for the day, I could write and tell you about how much I managed to do. And in a way, it was a relativelyContinue reading “What Passes for Productivity”
Pawpaw Party
Dearest Rachel – So, while I had prepared for nothing much to happen last night – and as a consequent sidelight, begun a couple of letters to you as contingency plans – that is precisely what turned out to not happen. As a result, I have plenty to tell you about, even if much ofContinue reading “Pawpaw Party”
from Rachel: On the Contrary
What happened to Paul and Silas (called Sylvanus in Thessalonians) after they were dragged into the marketplace before the authorities (vv. 22-24)? “The crowd joined in the attack, the authorities ordered them to be stripped and beaten, they were severely flogged, they were imprisoned in an inner cell, and their feet were put in stocks.”Continue reading “from Rachel: On the Contrary”
Small Stuff in the Meantime
Dearest Rachel – There’s a pair of rules for life that go like such: 1.) Don’t sweat the small stuff, and 2.) it’s all small stuff. And from your vantage point, that’s truer than any living human can grasp. Literally anything I tell you about is ‘small stuff,’ in the grand scheme of things, noContinue reading “Small Stuff in the Meantime”
A Day For Daniel
Dearest Rachel – I’ve got to admit, I really don’t know what to write to you about this morning. It’s been a day of a fair number of little things – just enough to keep me occupied – none of which strike me as particularly noteworthy. It’s just a little bit of everything and aContinue reading “A Day For Daniel”
We Disappoint
Dearest Rachel – Coming home from class at church last night (Pastor Joel is doing a series on Old Testament characters, and certain Biblical counseling principles that apply to them; our first night started almost at the very beginning, with Cain and God’s warning to him to keep his desires under control, lest something terribleContinue reading “We Disappoint”
Going On Younger
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, I mentioned something rather in passing about how I see those who are my peers – people my age – to somehow be older than myself. As I was writing that parenthetical comment, I realized that it could stand to be expanded upon, but if I were to do that rightContinue reading “Going On Younger”
I Could Use a New Drug
Dearest Rachel – I’m not gonna go so far as to say that I need a new drug (and in event, apparently Huey Lewis didn’t go that far either – he actually said “want,” much to my surprise – not that he was talking about drugs in the first place, but rather about love andContinue reading “I Could Use a New Drug”
Harnessing Resolve
Dearest Rachel – I’ve told you in the past about one failure or another when it comes to attempts at both diet and exercise; not only have are there the standard problems with motivation, there been times when one’s determination to do right falters when faced with certain obstacles life presents. My struggles with thisContinue reading “Harnessing Resolve”
from Rachel: Hear It
Please look up the precise wording of verse 8 in either the NASB, KJV, or the ESV. According to one of these three versions, exactly what sounded out or sounded forth from them?“the word of the Lord” The following verses offer a broad-spectrum view of the power of the phrase. What does each say aboutContinue reading “from Rachel: Hear It”
We Need A Third, At Least
Dearest Rachel – This weekend is particularly quiet for Daniel and myself, honey. Logan is out of the house for the weekend; I forget if it’s a sibling or a cousin of his, but one or the other is getting married this weekend up in Michigan. It strikes me as a little odd for aContinue reading “We Need A Third, At Least”
Not For Me, But Still…
Dearest Rachel – So last night had me in class again at church. It doesn’t require the same sort of schedule juggling as Grief Share did five years ago (when it was running concurrently against Awana clubs and my responsibilities there), but given that it’s on a Thursday, it does sort of interfere with ourContinue reading “Not For Me, But Still…”
Would I Be Like Arne?
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while since we went walking like this in the woods; not only were the last two weeks that I’ve met up with Lars been rather short on actual walking, he’s been hosting friends from overseas, so I’m something of a bit player in those days (and I’ve rather hadContinue reading “Would I Be Like Arne?”
The Beasts of the Kingdom
Dearest Rachel – So, over Labor Day weekend, Logan dragged Daniel and I (not too insistently, as we’d found the movie intriguing enough to consider checking out – we just don’t go out to do these things on our own without a little extra push, which Logan was more than happy to provide) to seeContinue reading “The Beasts of the Kingdom”
A Healthy Crowd
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know what it felt like to you or Daniel, but it seems like whatever I have right now is like one of the colds either of you would deal with; longer term, lower symptom intensity, but just there the whole time. Rather than being laid out flat like I usedContinue reading “A Healthy Crowd”
Walking Distance
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure that Kirsten started the conversation this weekend about what we might do together, which will eventually become somewhat ironic at some point in this story. To be fair, she started it sometime in the middle of Friday, when I was staying home (although not exactly staying home the wholeContinue reading “Walking Distance”
from Rachel: Reading Lives and Letters
What do you think my pastor’s statement means? “Happiness is wonderful, but it is hard to hold onto. It comes and goes with the moment and one’s mood. Even on an extra happy day or in an especially happy place, little problems or inconveniences or disappointments or even slightly boring moments can make happiness ebbContinue reading “from Rachel: Reading Lives and Letters”
A Mad, Pointless Dash
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday saw me sitting at home yet again; for all Mom’s mock-concern about losing track of the days with ‘two Saturdays’ at the end of the week, I can’t seem to avoid the situation. This time around, it was a continuation of an issue we had mostly dealt with of aContinue reading “A Mad, Pointless Dash”
Vaguely Familiar Ground
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday saw me driving Mom to her investment advisors’ to deposit a refund check from Dad’s health insurance, as well as determine what to do with the life insurance payout she had already received. While I would point out that she could certainly have driven herself – she does so whenContinue reading “Vaguely Familiar Ground”
Chained in Place
Dearest Rachel – For all that I mention it (and for all that I try not to), you’re well aware of my newsfeed, and the fact that I still read it on a daily basis. You might remember that I used to read certain articles of interest to you, partly as practice at reading scripts,Continue reading “Chained in Place”
Meanwhile, at Home…
Dearest Rachel – There are some stories that are not really mine to tell, as I don’t enter into them until the second or third act at best, but since Daniel’s not likely to tell it (for various reasons, including that he’s not a writer, as such, and it’s debatable as to how well theContinue reading “Meanwhile, at Home…”
Letting Myself Be Treated
Dearest Rachel – I’ve no idea how long it’s been since I’ve been to Lake Geneva; in fact, as far as I know, I (and therefore we) never went there before. There are the odd sights that seem vaguely familiar from my childhood, but as you know, my childhood memories don’t seem to be asContinue reading “Letting Myself Be Treated”
To Shock God Himself
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned just the other day in replying to you that I feel a sort of futility in the idea of praying to an omniscient God – although what kind of “god” would One be if He wasn’t that, along with all the other “omni”s ascribed to him? Were He to lackContinue reading “To Shock God Himself”
‘Working’ on Labor Day
Dearest Rachel – It may seem a little inappropriate for me to be reporting in to the ‘office’ today – although it’s been pointed out since the holiday was created how odd it is to celebrate ‘labor’ by not laboring – but that’s the beauty of being retired and being able to set one’s ownContinue reading “‘Working’ on Labor Day”
from Rachel: But Also in Power
Read Mark 4:41. What question did they ask in their great fear? “‘Who is this?’ (‘Even the wind and the waves obey Him.’)” ✭ Trying to wrap human language around holy exposure is like trying to cover a big screen TV with six inches of Christmas paper. Do you understand from experience what I’m talkingContinue reading “from Rachel: But Also in Power”
Playing Tour Guide
Dearest Rachel – It was an interesting start to the day, honey. I was assured by Copilot that the trains departing the Arlington Heights station for Ogilvie would show up there at about 48 minutes past the hour, so I made a point of leaving the house shortly after nine (but not without extending aContinue reading “Playing Tour Guide”
Making Preparations
Dearest Rachel – Since I really want to get this out before I have to leave the house in the morning, this letter is mostly being written ahead of time. Oh, I expect to have a fair amount to tell you about regarding today’s activities, but that won’t be until I get home, and byContinue reading “Making Preparations”
Costco Run
Dearest Rachel – Good news this morning (or, more accurately, from Tuesday afternoon); Daniel called in to the county as instructed on his summons, and it turns out that his services were not required after all, which was a relief. I was fully prepared to escort him down there (despite never having been called toContinue reading “Costco Run”
Can Ghosts Take Care of You?
Dearest Rachel – Given a fairly calm and otherwise uneventful week – it’s too hot and muggy to go walking (and in any event, Lars is being visited by some old friends from Europe, although he’s invited me to join them on Friday when they hit the city in earnest; we’ll see how that goes),Continue reading “Can Ghosts Take Care of You?”
Retirement Home
Dearest Rachel – It’s been one of those days where nothing interesting is happening, at least not personally, which is okay; life doesn’t always have to have something monumental going on in it every day. In fact, if it did, it would get to the point where a boring day would be the most unusualContinue reading “Retirement Home”
Will We Know Our Masterpiece?
Dearest Rachel – In a song that I woke up the other day running around in my head, Bob Dylan lamented “all the hours [he’d] spent inside the Coliseum / Dodging lions, and wasting time.” He claimed later on that “some day, ev’rything is gonna be diff’rnt / When I paint my masterpiece.” And whileContinue reading “Will We Know Our Masterpiece?”
Friends First
Dearest Rachel – It’s actually kind of funny; as summer comes to a close, the social calendar ramps up with a quickness. Which is sort of ironic, because everything’s pretty slow during the summer – now that we all get back to our commitments, we’re being called to this or that event on top ofContinue reading “Friends First”
from Rachel: We Recalled
Look at the first verse of each letter to the Thessalonians. Who were the writers/senders? “Paul, Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy” An intriguing anomaly appears in the introduction to Galatians. Additional senders are listed but unnamed (see 1:2). Who are they? “and all the brothers with me – Paul’s whole entourage” Think back on a harshContinue reading “from Rachel: We Recalled”
Pretend Everything’s Normal
Dearest Rachel – I feel like I should apologize for yesterday; normally, I can get a letter out to you before noon without fail – and most of it was put together both early and quickly – but the story couldn’t be resolved until the work was done by the repair team when they cameContinue reading “Pretend Everything’s Normal”
A Plumbing Fix
Dearest Rachel – Given that our house is older than even your parents’ place (it was, after all, on the outer perimeter of the subdivision, and therefore built first as part of a row of demonstration models), it was to be expected that we would need to fix up and upgrade the place over time.Continue reading “A Plumbing Fix”
The Process of Discovery
Dearest Rachel – For all that I will tell you about the characteristics that Daniel shares with you, this time it may be something that he shares with me that makes the story. He may be generally inert on his own, but once nudged to do something, he can pursue the matter without further influence.Continue reading “The Process of Discovery”
Entropy
Dearest Rachel – I tend to think of this word as being synonymous with chaos or disorder; slightly more scientific than either of the other words, with a literally universal meaning to it, insofar as the cosmos tends toward it all the more over time (although, on such a scale, one could expect the processContinue reading “Entropy”
To Wander Off
Dearest Rachel – I realize that it’s an everyday occurrence for some people – it’s how they get to their offices, after all, and all the tedium associated with that – but when I walk across town to get to my ‘office,’ I pass by the train station in the middle of town, and I’mContinue reading “To Wander Off”
Showing Up, At Least
Dearest Rachel – Life does not work like literature, honey. Anton Chekov insisted that a gun that appears in the first act of a stage play must be fired by the third act, but that’s not how things work in real life. Your dad’s pistol, hidden (ironically) in a book with its pages hollowed out,Continue reading “Showing Up, At Least”
Pleasure and Penance
Dearest Rachel – After Daniel passed his driving test (which I’ve never had to take a second time, so even I would worry about missing a key thing or two), I thought it would be worth going out to eat to celebrate. It’s not like either of the boys weren’t already thinking about lunch, asContinue reading “Pleasure and Penance”
from Rachel: Children of the Day
Note how Jesus referred to this continuum in John 17:20: I pray not only for these, but also “for those who will believe in me through their message.” To what location did Paul and Silas first go in Thessalonica? “the synagogue” How many Sabbaths did they serve in Thessalonica? “3” Carefully read Acts 17:2-3. WhatContinue reading “from Rachel: Children of the Day”
Take Two
Dearest Rachel – Well, considering that last week turned out to be a washout, I wasn’t expecting much out of this week’s attempt for the boys to get their licenses renewed and updated. At the same time, it’s not like we didn’t know what documentation we hadn’t thought to bring last time around, so maybeContinue reading “Take Two”
Summoned to Stand By
Dearest Rachel – I never expected to write you twice about mail in the same week. True, I call these posts that I “send” to you “letters,” but there’s no postal service between heaven and earth that can assure that they would be delivered and read – at least, not by you. Anything that happensContinue reading “Summoned to Stand By”
And You Thought I Was Bad When I Worked…
Dearest Rachel – I’m not going to lie, but my recent evening routine would probably shock you, honey. You would stay up until the wee hours of the night, after all, fighting off the sandman as if a mortal enemy. You might nod off in front of a computer while we hung out together inContinue reading “And You Thought I Was Bad When I Worked…”
Mail for Your Mom
Dearest Rachel – I don’t recall exactly when it was that you set things up so that your parents’ mail would arrive at our place. It would have been after you and I got them to agree to in-home nursing care (which they preferred to the idea of having to be placed in a retirementContinue reading “Mail for Your Mom”
Caught Cheating
Dearest Rachel – For all that Lars is a doctor, as well as a friend I walk with on a regular basis (although not as regular of late, since this past week held various scheduling conflicts between the two of us, and the week before saw me in Honduras, where I had… other issues withContinue reading “Caught Cheating”
It Would Never Work
Dearest Rachel – It was a relatively small crowd that went down to Honduras a couple of weeks ago – closer to fifteen rather than twenty, which has been the rough average of previous trips (in fairness, they are doing a greater number of trips this year, thereby spreading volunteers out among multiple weeks, ratherContinue reading “It Would Never Work”
from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (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.“…‘the biggest day’ of our lives… will be the day when we all stand up before Jesus Christ to give an account of our usefulness to him during thisContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (part five)”
At The Last Minute
Dearest Rachel – It was a good thing that I had basically finished my ‘work’ for the month (you know, the reports to be delivered to the elders and such like) by the end of the day on Thursday, honey. Yesterday wound up getting pre-empted by so much else happening at the last minute thatContinue reading “At The Last Minute”
Treeman Doesn’t Care
Dearest Rachel – I occasionally find myself wondering how much you remember of life down here, after gulping down a draft from the river Lethe. To be sure, that’s a completely mythological waterway, but given how memory fades over time down here – and you’ve traveled much further than I have in that intervening time,Continue reading “Treeman Doesn’t Care”
Indulgent Parenting
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday was a short one at the ‘office’; normally, I’d be there from at least ten until three, but I had my semi-annual dental appointment (yes, I’m far more faithful with that than my physical check-up. In fact, I’m not even sure how that works, now that Daniel and I haveContinue reading “Indulgent Parenting”
Chocolate and Soap
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing you and I would share of an idle morning, or maybe talk about while we were walking Chompers around the block or two that he needed to do all the business he had to deal with. Meaningless, nonsense stuff; the sort of thing that was goodContinue reading “Chocolate and Soap”
Free to Walk Around
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday morning, after enduring two gullywashers in quick succession on Sunday (one of which knocked out the power in the house for about an hour or so), the temperature here (to say nothing of the threat of rain, although there was a high dome of clouds covering the sky that lasted throughoutContinue reading “Free to Walk Around”
The Long Trip Back
Dearest Rachel – It seems odd to focus on the flights to and from any given destination when I write to you about traveling; really, it’s the least interesting part of the whole trip. Then again, the process takes the better part of a day either way – be it the trip to and fromContinue reading “The Long Trip Back”
from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (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.“Tragically, the child training responsibility is approached with the same mentality as is the pile of dirty dishes on the kitchen counter. Instead of attending to them on aContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (part four)”
Soft Americans
Dearest Rachel – This has been quite the week, honey. Given the hardscrabble life that is common among Hondurans, it’s understandable that they would consider us Americans ‘soft’ in comparison, even if they would never say so to our faces save perhaps in jest, like guys do among themselves. On the subject of guys, I’mContinue reading “Soft Americans”
I Hate Such Dreams
Dearest Rachel – I hate dreams like the one last night, full of love and affection and false hope. I suppose I should be grateful for the fact that at this point, they don’t come around very much, but when they do, they hit hard, especially when I become aware of what’s going on, andContinue reading “I Hate Such Dreams”
Refusing the Call to Adventure
Dearest Rachel – Friday in Honduras is what’s referred to as “adventure day” by the folks at Just One for the members of the visiting “vision teams.” It’s meant to be a day of fun, a respite from and, to some extent, a reward (yes, there’s that term again) for the work put into theContinue reading “Refusing the Call to Adventure”
A Burden Lifted, A Blessing Granted
Dearest Rachel – A kilo of corn meal, a kilo of sugar, a kilo of milk powder, a kilo of salt. A bag of beans and bouillon cubes. Two bags (as opposed to boxes like we have at home) of spaghetti, and a box of cornflakes. Candles and ketchup, toothpaste and soap. You pack allContinue reading “A Burden Lifted, A Blessing Granted”
Everyone Wants to be an Entrepreneur
Dearest Rachel – It isn’t something that I expected when I started in on my class regarding budgeting (well, more like record-keeping, because how do you create a budget when you don’t know what you spent on things to begin with?), but once the kids started asking questions, so many of them had to doContinue reading “Everyone Wants to be an Entrepreneur”
No Longer Dry
Dearest Rachel – Well, the rains finally came; and when they did, they came pouring down. It would be just when I get through telling you about how they skipped past us, making a liar out of me. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to the No Hungry Home walk in this slop tomorrow;Continue reading “No Longer Dry”
The Dry Season
Dearest Rachel – Last summer, when I was in Honduras for the first time, it seemed like every night found us dealing with a rainstorm. For the most part, it didn’t interfere with our work during the day (unless you count our interactions with the students on the soccer pitch to be part of ourContinue reading “The Dry Season”
Don’t Know What To Expect
Dearest Rachel – This may be my third time down here in Honduras, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I know what to expect from any given day. There’s a fairly regular weekly schedule (complete with the fact that I tend to be “on” on Wednesdays for my class; not sure why, exactly), and certainContinue reading “Don’t Know What To Expect”
From A Quarter to One
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been told about numerous misadventures that various groups have had en route to and from Honduras – lost luggage, missed connections, and the like – but I’ve never experienced any of them myself thus far. Well, there’s a first time for everything, I suppose. Not that this was much of aContinue reading “From A Quarter to One”
Full of Food and Doubt
Dearest Rachel – I don’t remember which one it was, but I think it was at one of the many Anime Central conventions we attended together. The dealers’ hall would always have a number of vendors selling T-shirts with funny images and sayings on them (a number of which ended up in one or anotherContinue reading “Full of Food and Doubt”
from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (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 self-denial that must become a regular practice of life must eventually become a God-dependent self-denial. – maybe I’d do better at it that way.“You can build nothing godlyContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (part three)”
Cramming
Dearest Rachel – It’s the sort of situation you would find yourself in (and which I occasionally find evidence of as I go through your old Bible study notes), so I’d like to think you wouldn’t fault me for this particular shortcoming. The thing is, at the briefing a couple weeks ago, prior to anyContinue reading “Cramming”
Indulge Within Reason
Dearest Rachel – While out and about with Mom (getting papers signed, as I told you about yesterday), we passed by an old barbershop in the strip mall where her brokers have set up shop. Which struck the two of us as odd, since the name belonged to a shop that was a little closerContinue reading “Indulge Within Reason”
Papers In Order
Dearest Rachel – For all that much of life is conducted online these days (and to think, we were part of the vanguard; remember when we used to send out family Christmas letters, and thought it worthy of comment that most of our purchases were made that year on Amazon? Good times), some things needContinue reading “Papers In Order”
Not Really Trying
Dearest Rachel – You’ve already heard me complain (if that’s the right word for it; it seems a little harsh) that since I’ve come home from this last trip, I’ve had difficulty in getting back to what I refer to as my license weight. I honestly don’t know when it dates from, as I’ve essentiallyContinue reading “Not Really Trying”
Proctoring
Dearest Rachel – So, last night I was imagining that I was proctoring an exam; presumably for the kids down in Honduras (where I will be next week), but at the same time, it was a test I had been hoping to take, like with the CPA exam. At some point while I was doingContinue reading “Proctoring”
Artificial Affirmation
Dearest Rachel – It all started with the idea of giving Copilot enough information on me to craft recommendations based on my preferences. I ask it for advice while I’m traveling, and while it’s pretty good with recommendations (albeit absolute rubbish in terms of giving physical directions; thank heaven there are map applications I canContinue reading “Artificial Affirmation”
from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (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.“We must then become skillful at dying – to self. That daily dying must be done in the right way, and for the right reasons, however, if it isContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (part two)”
Bearly What We Expected
Dearest Rachel – So I finally took a crack at this recipe last night; it was meant to mimic what we’d eaten at Gibier Natural back in Sapporo. I’d been hesitating about doing this for some time, despite having collected all the ingredients about a week and a half previously. You see, for all thatContinue reading “Bearly What We Expected”
Threadbare
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing that, once upon a time, I would be writing to apologize to you about (and in fact, maybe that’s part of what I’m doing right now, when you come down to it); or, further back, I wouldn’t be doing at all, since you would claim thatContinue reading “Threadbare”
No Place to Socialize
Dearest Rachel – I was heading out of the gym the other day after putting in an unusually long session (a full hour and a half, plus a couple of five-minute cooldown walks in between) and encountered an older woman talking with her peer at the reception desk. Her shirt read “I may be twiceContinue reading “No Place to Socialize”
And I Missed It
Dearest Rachel – I’ve started a few more drafts since the last time I mentioned having a few I could work with, but by and large, they aren’t the sort of topics that are particularly time-sensitive. I could easily modify “yesterday” to “the other day” and no one would be the wiser if I didn’tContinue reading “And I Missed It”
With a Headful of Mush
Dearest Rachel – There’s an interesting effect in my trying to write you first thing in the morning, starting with the first hour or two after rolling out of bed. Some mornings, of course, I’m literally waking up with something to tell you about, even if it’s weird or surreal – because you used toContinue reading “With a Headful of Mush”
Blank T-Shirt
Dearest Rachel – So I’m standing in front of my closet this morning, trying to decide what to wear. You know the drill; I’ve made four separate quilts out of your T-shirts alone, and we had piles in the sunroom for your fancier dresses. Having choices wasn’t so much of a problem with us; itContinue reading “Blank T-Shirt”
A Walk Be(for)e Breakfast
Dearest Rachel – One of the reasons that I go into such great detail with you about some of my workouts is the fact that I never used to do this when you were alive. I don’t think it ever crossed either of our minds back in the day. There was a point in timeContinue reading “A Walk Be(for)e Breakfast”
from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (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.“…the first major step in spiritual growth for any believer is leaning the meaning of self-denial – he cannot have his own way. – Oh dear, I’m afraid I’veContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Ministry-Minded Overseer (part one)”
Knocking Off Early
Dearest Rachel – He may not have quite been the favorite musician for either of us, but we did happen to see my namesake, Randy Stonehill (hey, not many people share my name, let alone ‘famous’ people like artists, musicians and whatnot), live in concert three times throughout our lives together. Maybe it’s because heContinue reading “Knocking Off Early”
The Haze
Dearest Rachel – I stepped outside yesterday morning to something that looked like fog, for all intents and purposes. Given how many hot, dry days we’d been dealing with this week, it wouldn’t be all that surprising that, as it was cooler yesterday than it had been up until then; cooler air crashing into hotContinue reading “The Haze”
A Whole Lot of Nothing
Dearest Rachel – Standing out in the parking lot, waiting for the parents to arrive on a Wednesday evening, listening to the chorus of cicadas in the hot summer air, I feel like I should be telling you about my day – or at least starting in on the story, as things are about toContinue reading “A Whole Lot of Nothing”
The Insurance Company’s Loss
Dearest Rachel – I know what you’re thinking; “insurance is such a boring topic, honey – why are you thinking you can make a day’s essay out of it?” And the fact that I’m addressing this question should go to show that I’m well aware of that very fact, to the point of putting thoseContinue reading “The Insurance Company’s Loss”
Starting Out Slow
Dearest Rachel – Six-thirty. It’s not exactly early here, but enough that I might be able to amble over to the gym and put in an hour before going through my usual routine of getting myself ready before heading for the ‘office.’ I’ve even got most of the energy I’d need to do just that,Continue reading “Starting Out Slow”
Hither, Thither & Yon, Esq.
Dearest Rachel – In fairness, I can’t remember if Walt Kelly wrote about the team of Hither, Thither and Yon as a legal firm, or a trio of baseball players whose double-play performance rivaled that of Tinker, Evers and Chance (although from a historical standpoint, the three famous Cubs weren’t really all that great atContinue reading “Hither, Thither & Yon, Esq.”
from Rachel: Being a Word-Filled Teacher
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. “All of us are teaching all the time… God‘s concern is not just that we teach, for we will always be doing that, but that we be Word-filledContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a Word-Filled Teacher”
I Understand Bear
Dearest Rachel – I think you would have enjoyed the cinematic crop that’s been coming out this past year or so, honey. Not the big-studio, big-budget stuff so much, as the independent material that is starting to come out, doing an end-run around such systems and, while not exactly slaying the multitude of Goliaths thatContinue reading “I Understand Bear”
I’m the One Dreaming
Dearest Rachel – Sometimes, it’s weird having to come up with titles for these letters. I mean, I guess I could have just gone with using dates when I first started doing this, but that would give you no indication of what to expect, and that doesn’t seem fair to you or anyone reading overContinue reading “I’m the One Dreaming”
Back to Norbal
Dearest Rachel – It’s possible that things across town are starting to settle into a sort of normalcy for Mom these days. I had offered to bring dinner over yesterday, like we’ve done for the past couple of weeks, and while she accepted that offer, as usual, she kept adding things that she was goingContinue reading “Back to Norbal”
When You Were There For Him
Dearest Rachel – Another day, another meal; it seems that, in some ways, is the most interesting part of a given day (please note, honey, that I wrote this yesterday afternoon, before the lightning struck). This applies even to days with something happening that hasn’t for the past month and a half; that of KrisContinue reading “When You Were There For Him”
Sizzle and Crash
Dearest Rachel – Well, that came out of absolutely nowhere. At about half-past midnight, there was this slight sizzling sound, followed by a thunderous cracking noise and a bright flash of light in our backyard. I don’t know whether we got hit by a singular bolt of lightning (out of a sky with no rain)Continue reading “Sizzle and Crash”
The Legal Niceties
Dearest Rachel – I fell asleep early last night; it wasn’t even dark yet, so I had to put on my eye mask to do so, but everything I’d intended to do for the day was done. Besides, I’d need to get up early in the morning if I was going to hit the gymContinue reading “The Legal Niceties”
Happy Hour
Dearest Rachel – The farther I get from your presence in terms of time, the less I remember the way things were when you had to leave as opposed to how they are now. I want to say that the hole in the wall Daniel and I went to yesterday was already a Japanese restaurantContinue reading “Happy Hour”
The Sparrow Falls
Dearest Rachel – Our block, if you can call it that, is an unusual one in the suburbs, as you might remember. One can walk north, and before one arrives at the next street (which, admittedly, has one passing three hundreds in terms of street numbers; hence why I call it ‘unusual’), one passes byContinue reading “The Sparrow Falls”
Free Weekend
Dearest Rachel – It’s somewhere between appropriate and ironic that this weekend should get such a designation in the title, given Independence Day and all that. You might point out that, somewhat wryly and pace Stan Freberg, that we didn’t get out of town for the weekend like the Founding Fathers were likely to doContinue reading “Free Weekend”
from Rachel: Being a God-Loving Example (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. “…lovers are extravagant! They cannot get enough of each other’s time. Thoughts of the loved one return to their minds often throughout the day and even invade theirContinue reading “from Rachel: Being a God-Loving Example (part three)”
