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”
Tag Archives: changes
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”
What Has Changed?
Dearest Rachel – Part of me can’t believe it’s been eighteen years since you took this footage as we scoped out the cottage you used to refer to as “Miz Fay’s place” back when your family were still staying at the Bretz cottages a short wade further north. Another part of me can’t believe I’mContinue reading “What Has Changed?”
A Sense of Wrongness
Dearest Rachel – Morning on the island, and the house is silent. I’ve slept well, if somewhat layered up (we had to turn on the heater when we first got here, and it’s particularly chilly this morning, still (albeit only in the florida room in the back of the house). Did I say the houseContinue reading “A Sense of Wrongness”
from Rachel: Same Spot, Different Despot
Fill in the blank according to Luke 21:24: ‘Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until “the times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled.Now, fill in the blank, according to the final words of Daniel‘s fifth chapter: ‘That very night Belshazzar, King of the Babylonians, was slain, and “Darius the Mede” took over the kingdom,Continue reading “from Rachel: Same Spot, Different Despot”
I’d Tell You Everything
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday really had me going through my news feed rather than trying to finish a topic that I couldn’t resolve in that moment. In the process, though, I ran across a tweet – okay, a retweet of a retweet – that really made me stop and think about what I would doContinue reading “I’d Tell You Everything”
Work Keeps You Sane
Dearest Rachel – I really thought that coming back to your hometown would hurt more than it did. As I’ve said before, what with you being gone (to say nothing of your folks, who served as your anchor to the place), there’s nothing for me in the place anymore. It represents somewhere – and moreContinue reading “Work Keeps You Sane”
Molding Fired Clay
Dearest Rachel – It’s axiomatic that, somewhere along the line, every analogy breaks down at some point; the trick is to try and figure out where that breakdown point is. And while I don’t know where that point is on this particular topic, it’s entirely possible I’ll be able to figure it out as IContinue reading “Molding Fired Clay”
Not Everything Can Be Fixed
Dearest Rachel – The last few results from Tuesday have come in, and the funny thing is, none of it really came as that much of a surprise. The news organizations and channels Daniel and I were listening to actually predicted the results as they’ve come in – although they did seem to hedge theirContinue reading “Not Everything Can Be Fixed”
Upending The Schedule
Dearest Rachel – Assuming you’ve been keeping an eye on me like I always ask you to, you know what my schedule looks like on an average day. For that matter, it’s not that much different than it was when you were still around, come to that. I’d get up in the morning, head overContinue reading “Upending The Schedule”
Whitsunday
Dearest Rachel – You’re probably confused by this title; if you’re expecting a report on our next port of call, you’re expecting me to be discussing the town of Airlie Beach. Besides, you might even remember to point out, Whitsunday isn’t for over two months yet, as it’s the liturgical name for what we mightContinue reading “Whitsunday”
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”
Last Christmas
Dearest Rachel – To say that this Christmas was different than most would be a blinding understatement. So perhaps I should go into the ‘why’ and ‘how,’ rather than just settling with a single, over-generalized statement like that. After all, if you look closely enough, every day is different from its fellows, so why wouldn’t one ChristmasContinue reading “Last Christmas”
What I Had to Do
Dearest Rachel – I think my subconscious mind is trying to help me come up with material to tell you about these past few mornings without actually putting together actual dreams as such – I don’t know if it’s being lazy or brilliant. Considering that what it put together is mostly unusable, I’m actually mildlyContinue reading “What I Had to Do”
Like Virgil in the Forest
Dearest Rachel – I wouldn’t go so far as to suggest I owe you an apology for going back on my word – had life continued as we expected, with you still here, there would have been absolutely no question about whether or not we would continue to go to Anime Iowa, no reason forContinue reading “Like Virgil in the Forest”
To Answer the Call of the Road
Dearest Rachel – I hadn’t meant for this to happen, but I suppose it shouldn’t have come as any surprise; this morning saw me up by five. I had fallen asleep in bed watching YouTube before ten while the boys were doing likewise in the family room as per usual – in part, I wouldContinue reading “To Answer the Call of the Road”
Changes of Plan
Dearest Rachel – The thing about yesterday’s synchronicity of inconveniences is that life rarely works out so well (even in the midst of not working out so well); that’s really why I wrote to you about it, because it was so unusual. Not only were each of the main issues out of the ordinary, butContinue reading “Changes of Plan”
Setting My Rules Aside
Dearest Rachel – I promised myself I would wait for the girls, but there’s only so much I can do about self-imposed restrictions when I want to break them. I’d apologize, but to whom? I’d gotten my hands on that anime series I’ve mentioned a few times since Anime Central; A Place Further than theContinue reading “Setting My Rules Aside”
And Then It Hit Me
Dearest Rachel – This morning really didn’t start off that much differently from any other Saturday morning (at least, any Saturday since your departure). This may be convention weekend for the boys, but they still sleep at the house – and why not, since the event is barely five miles from the house? So IContinue reading “And Then It Hit Me”
Off My Meds
Dearest Rachel – I don’t remember exactly how long ago it was; I’m think it’s been seven years since Mohinder browbeat me into going for an annual physical. I rarely saw the value in them, as I basically knew what I would hear from my doctor, and I felt I either didn’t need (because IContinue reading “Off My Meds”
There Are Places I Remember…
Dearest Rachel – On my way home from walking with Lars the other day, I stopped at a bagel shop to pick up a dozen for Daniel and myself. Since I’d just eaten, it was clearly an act of nostalgia rather than actual hunger, because it was an outlet of a chain of such storesContinue reading “There Are Places I Remember…”
from Rachel: When Things Change
What else did these deceivers deny about Jesus (see 2 John 7)? “That He came in the flesh.” True/False: John and his community departed from the false teachers (v.19) “Not exactly; the false teachers departed from them. So I guess – false.” While some rejected His divinity, others denied He had come in the flesh…Continue reading “from Rachel: When Things Change”
Zombies
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure you’re wondering about the title; all those apocalyptic movies and television shows (World War Z, the Walking Dead) all came out years ago, during your lifetime. These can’t still be popular to the point where I’d comment on them, are they? Especially since it was you who were into thoseContinue reading “Zombies”
I Still Need to Get Out More
Dearest Rachel – I hear the occasional comment about how unusual our weather is this winter, but I can’t say that I’ve seen any real evidence of it. For instance, I’ve heard that last month has the least amount of sunlight for January since we’ve been keeping track of that; I have no idea howContinue reading “I Still Need to Get Out More”
The Gym Can Wait (But Not for Long)
Dearest Rachel – January is the month for resolutions, and as everybody know, although in all honesty, we were never much for them ourselves. Not because we thought we had everything together – far from it – but that we were realistic enough to know that we’d end up breaking them in the same monthContinue reading “The Gym Can Wait (But Not for Long)”
You Don’t See the Light Until It’s On
Dearest Rachel – Back when I was waking up barely after five in the morning to prepare myself for the workday, I would often shower with only the nightlight on in the bathroom – because I really wasn’t ready to turn on the ceiling light, and assumed that you, in turn, might be bothered byContinue reading “You Don’t See the Light Until It’s On”
A Second Adolescence
Dearest Rachel – It’s been long said that senility and dementia result in something that is referred to as a ‘second childhood’. You no longer know the things you used to know, so you’re about as ignorant and helpless as you were as a little child. You remember how this was, especially with your mom’sContinue reading “A Second Adolescence”
from Rachel: Awake My Soul, Tune In!
What does 2 Corinthians 5:7 say about your status now that you are in Christ? “I am a new creation.” Scripture says that accessories come with your “newness.” What are they? On the following thought closet bins write a truthful statement you can say to your soul to reinforce what God has given you. “ItContinue reading “from Rachel: Awake My Soul, Tune In!”
Letters to Rachel 