May 12, 2016 The Prophet Isaiah had to deliver a lot of negative news to the Israelites as God declared His plan to discipline them for their rebellion. But throughout the Book of Isaiah, there are glimpses of the promise that eventually Messiah Jesus will come and all will be at Peace. Chapter 11 is […]
May 5, 2016 The title “Mother” carries a sense of awe, maybe even reverence, that is both tender and profound. When Adam called his wife’s name “Eve,” he used a word that means “life-giver.” Genesis 3:20 says “she would become the mother of all living” – literally the “bond of the family.” It is interesting […]
April 27, 2016 It is a challenge to deal honestly with issues without attacking the person. As parents, we try to separate the offense from the child so that we deal with a bad action or attitude but do not call the child a bad person. I have pondered this in light of John 3:16: […]
April 20, 2016 Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The word used here for “fear” can include respect as well as to be appropriately afraid. Should we ever fear God? And how does fear of God fit with the Grace of God? Is […]
April 15, 2016 April 15 is traditionally Tax Day in America, although I am aware that the IRS gave us some extra time this year because of a holiday in Washington, D.C. And while I know that this is a painful day for people who see some of those dollars going for things they do […]
April 6, 2016 The newspaper headline caught my attention: “Hubble telescope spies most distant galaxy.” The claim is to have spotted “the most distant galaxy ever observed.” And then this statement: “The light that left this galaxy that we’re observing now left the galaxy 13.4 billion years ago.” I have no idea how scientists determine […]
March 30, 2016 For many people, Easter Sunday is about dinner, eggs, bunnies, flowers and maybe the annual visit to a local church. And then it is over. Dinner is a memory – maybe an uncomfortable one. The colorful eggs are made into sandwiches. The stuffed bunnies are kept, but the live ones will soon […]
March 23, 2016 “Rising from the dead” and “coming back to life” are dictionary definitions of “resurrection.” The word makes us think about death giving way to life – the supernatural overpowering the natural. When dealing with death, there is one word that conveys confident hope: resurrection. “Resurrection” is a New Testament word, appearing many […]
March 16, 2016 Cables fascinate me. Single strands of string or wire that are easily broken become powerful when united into a cable. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Multiples connected together increase strength. While some people do not like crowds, most of us do not like to […]
March 10, 2016 A pencil-sized leak in a dike, if not stopped, can destroy a huge dam. A tiny blemish on an apple, if not removed, will eventually ruin the entire fruit. A small nail can cause a flat tire and disable a large vehicle. A tiny spark can cause a huge fire. A very […]
March 2, 2016 In a discussion about personal preferences that can divide followers of Jesus, Romans 14:13 says, “Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” The context of the discussion is about the stumbling blocks, but the part I am pondering is decision making: “Make up […]
February 24, 2016 A significant part of mentoring is ownership. Until a student actually owns what is modeled, the process is not complete. Much of the way we do life revolves around this principle. A child who has the benefit of parents who teach and live good behavior choices will usually mimic these attitudes during […]
June 3, 2020 It was perhaps 18 years ago that a couple of people suggested I should write a weekly blog. I did not know what a “blog” was, but Ponder with Pastor Bill came out of that idea. It has been good for me to have this opportunity, and I hope it has been…
May 20, 2020 It feels strange, almost wrong, for me to ask this question: How could the Creator and Controller of the universe be held in captivity by it? I hope I am not dabbling in something inappropriate, but this has been on my mind. The confinement of lockdown is a familiar situation for all…
May 13, 2020 Creator God gives us a statement of beauty and hope when He puts a silver lining around a dark cloud in the sky. He reminds us that the darkness is temporary and there is something more powerful than the cloud. It feels like our lives, our community and our world have a…
Meditación con el pastor Bill 6 de mayo de 2020 Sentado en mi silla de tratamiento esta semana frente a una ventana que me daba una vista para el Monte St. Helens, cubierto de nieve sobre un fondo azul cielo. Era una escena magnífica, y tuve mucho tiempo para disfrutarla y reflexionar sobre el significado…
May 6, 2020 My treatment chair this week faced a window that provided a frame for Mount St. Helens, covered with snow against a sky-blue background. It was a magnificent scene, and I had plenty of time to enjoy it and ponder the significance of that mountain. Prior to 1980, I called it “Mount Chrome…