November 25, 2015 Ponder “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” Psalm 105:1 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in America. I am grateful that our nation recognizes the need to give special emphasis to giving thanks. *I am grateful for this day. Regardless of how […]
November 19, 2015 Ponder I have been thinking about what my life experience would be without Christmas. It is a little overwhelming for me to consider how impacted I am by this annual celebration. The lights and decorations combine with music throughout the malls in a way that lifts my spirits. Memories of childhood Christmas […]
November 11, 2015 Ponder Distractions are an issue for people of all ages. Children are often reminded: “You need to pay attention.” Teenagers must be attentive to details when learning to drive. Adults find out the hard way that distractions can turn into traffic violations. Our world is filled with distractions, and learning to manage […]
November 4, 2015 Ponder Both the Matthew 6 and Luke 11 accounts of what is often called “The Lord’s Prayer” have a line that fascinates me: “Give us this day (or each day) our daily bread.” In the midst of acknowledging Creator God, admitting personal sin and aligning our thinking with God’s will, we are […]
October 28, 2015 Ponder I was long overdue for washing the outside of our windows at home. Since there are a number of them, I had plenty of time to think about the benefits of windows and why I appreciate them. I admit to giving very little thought to this subject in the past. I […]
October 21, 2015 Ponder Experts tell us that the Pacific Northwest is a candidate for a major earthquake. They have studied the patterns and cycles of previous earthquakes and say that we are past the time for the next one to occur. In recent weeks, area schoolchildren have practiced “earthquake drills.” The media has given […]
October 14, 2015 Ponder In the middle of a list of directives for followers of Jesus, the Apostle Paul includes this one: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:17). I have been pondering this command while considering a concept by an author I respect: Since […]
October 7, 2015 Ponder Since I do not have a lot of technological ability, I was hesitant to get involved with Facebook. I know that the information shared is sometimes inappropriate or even destructive. Facebook can become addictive – one could spend hours each day browsing through its messages. Over time, I realized that Facebook […]
September 30, 2015 Ponder The movie Fiddler on the Roof includes a song where the husband and wife list the many functions of marriage but continually return to the question, “Do you love me?” Marriage can become a routine of faithfully carrying out responsibilities and commitment but fail to nurture a loving relationship that brings […]
September 23, 2015 Ponder The story is told of a farmer who needed help. When he interviewed a potential helper and asked about his abilities, the man’s reply was simple: “I can sleep when the wind blows.” Thinking the answer a bit strange but needing the help, the farmer decided to give the man a […]
September 16, 2015 Ponder Fields of bright orange pumpkins are an obvious reminder of the fall season. Leaves that have been green for months are turning red and gold. A friend remarked that it felt good to have the canning season about finished; you did not hear this comment in June. Summer is a time […]
September 9, 2015 Ponder In my growing up years, I was aware of couples who divorced, but there were not a lot. Today there are many children living with the reality of broken marriages. I seldom heard a lady use a curse word, and most men saved their inappropriate comments for their male friends. Today […]
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…