June 12, 2019 A number of stories claim the origin of Father’s Day, but one theme is common –to show appreciation for Dad and honor him in appropriate ways. It is a worthy tradition. The word “father” appears nearly 1,100 times in the Bible. The first time is in Genesis 2:24, where we read, “A […]
June 5, 2019 The story in Acts 28:1-6 reminds me of James 1:19: “Listen much, speak little and do not become angry.” It is dangerous to make a judgment before we have all of the facts. The people on the island of Malta found this to be true. The Apostle Paul had just survived a […]
May 22, 2019 The Roman leader Cicero is credited with these words: “Memory is the treasure of all things and their guardian.” I can only wonder what motivated him to say this, but it has led me to think about the power of memories. With Memorial Day this weekend, I am remembering people who have […]
May 15, 2019 I read a story about a man who lived 10 years in prison for a murder that he did not commit. While in prison, he became a follower of Jesus. He called the 10 years a bargain. Now that is looking at a difficult situation with a positive perspective. After the Apostle […]
May 8, 2019 It is appropriate to have a day of special focus on mothers, but I fear that she is neglected far too many of the other days of the year. Many special days are like that. How many of us have thought about Christmas since the last one? Easter? Memorial Day? Independence Day? […]
May 1, 2019 Humans have a tendency to ignore warnings. The pattern started in the Garden of Eden with the first couple. Despite a direct statement from Creator God, they failed to heed the one limitation He placed on them. One would think that with all of the benefits and blessings surrounding them, they could […]
April 24, 2019 The Apostle Peter gets many comments about his tendency to speak before thinking. I find his life an encouragement because I struggle with the same issue. Apparently, both of us needed to master the principle of James 1:19: “Listen much, speak little and do not become angry.” I am impressed with Peter’s […]
April 17, 2019 During these days before Resurrection Sunday, I have been thinking about evidence of life after death. It is springtime in the Pacific Northwest, and people are beginning to work in their gardens. Before long, planting will begin. Seeds will be put in the ground and covered with soil. Most objects put in […]
April 10, 2019 I respect the feelings of people who choose not to attend a Good Friday Service. It is an experience in darkness that makes us uncomfortable. While Jesus’ followers know the Story does not end there, it is still difficult to consider what actually took place. The Roman crucifixion process was more brutal […]
April 3, 2019 One of the earliest words learned by children is “mine.” If they do not know the word, they will make the point by their actions. Even very young children know how to take a toy away from another child. The problem started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided […]
March 27, 2019 One of the marks of maturity is that we make better use of our time. We learn skills that allow us to accomplish a task in less time than when we first attempted it. A journeyman in the trades watches an apprentice fumble their way through a project that takes them several […]
March 20, 2019 I just finished reading Deuteronomy. It is good for me to read through the Bible each year and be reminded of God’s faithfulness and the human tendency to miss out on so much of what He wants us to enjoy. The Israelites are a prime example, but the issue is a human […]
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…