This week’s devotional readings are taken from the writings of Dallas Willard, another trustworthy guide on spiritual disciplines that equip and empower the “grace sustained habits” of people who follow Jesus’ way, living into the kingdom of heaven.The gospel readings for each week continue to make our way through Mark’s gospel. Remember as you read to imagine you are one of the disciples. What ar...  Read More

Blessings on this beautiful summer morning in Seattle, and please forgive me for sending the devotions for this week to you so late in the morning. Each week this summer the readings with the devotions will come from one author. This week we begin to read through the gospel of Mark (whose author is traditionally John Mark, a relative of Peter) and the spiritual reflections are from Henri Nouwen. I...  Read More

There are moments in our lives that mark our place in history, and we ask ourselves this question – where were you when? Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell? Or when Mt. St. Helens erupted? Or when John Lennon was shot? Or when the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff? Where were you when 9/11 happened? Where were you when.Sometimes this question is more personal. I distinc...  Read More

During the summer weeks we will send one devotional guide for the week rather than daily devotions. This week the readings from the Old and New Testament reflect on Jesus’ kingdom mission to seek and to save the lost. Devotions are included as a pdf.The reflections quoted with each day’s readings this week are from the book “The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat Up, and Burnt O...  Read More

This Saturday’s musical devotional from Anthony Spain will be his last this summer - thank you Anthony for the thoughtful Saturday devotions during this season.I grew up just a few miles from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, which also meant I was only about 30 miles from Washington D.C.  Being close to both places, I came to appreciate and understand, at an early age, the dedication and ...  Read More

Psalms 11-15, Proverbs 3, Philippians 3:15-21Our devotion today is another of John Baillie's daily prayers. God of my forefathers, I cry unto You. You have been the refuge of good and wise women and men in every generation. When history began, You were the first enlightener of human minds, and Your's was the Spirit that first led them out of their brutish estate and made them human. Through all th...  Read More

We are grieved. As a ministry and as parents, we grieve the painful consequences of prolonged racial division and inequality in our country. We recognize that all parents are created uniquely by God, and it hurts us to see that our fellow parents are being made to feel less because of their skin color. God will not stand for racism, and neither should we.Parents, please know that now more than eve...  Read More

In Luke 10:25, a legal expert asks Jesus about the path to eternal life. Jesus tells him to follow the two greatest commandments—love God and love your neighbors. Yet the man presses for more detail, following up by asking “And who is my neighbor?” (verse 29). Then Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching that neighbors can be anyone, not just people who look, act, and believe as we...  Read More

I was looking through picture albums over the past few weeks. Joshua and Jess are expecting and I’m going to be a Nana (or Mimi? feel free to vote) in a little over a month! Anyway, we were planning a slide show for a virtual shower and I needed to send pictures of Joshua. I got caught up in the memories and a simple project took me hours!I, like many of you I’m sure, took pictures of my kids stan...  Read More

Psalms 6-10, Proverbs 2, Ephesians 4:25-32Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29Bruce Larson used to say that we need 5 “Atta Boys” for every 1 “You jerk”. Marriage researchers at the Gottman Institute (University of Washington) confirmed the same 5:1 rat...  Read More

Psalms 1-5, Proverbs 1, Luke 18It’s time to call out the big dogs.Prayer and Fasting.We are 5 months now since learning of the first COVID deaths in the Seattle area. Five months. We thought then 6, maybe 8 weeks and we would be over the worst and returning to normal. This is one stubborn virus ...Do you remember the story of the second string disciples? The starters had gone up the mountain with ...  Read More

Psalms 146-150, Proverbs 30, Luke 13:6-9PatienceEssential to love (1 Cor. 13:4) - a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) - a characteristic divine virtue to which we owe our salvation (2 Pet. 3:15). Boy howdy is it difficult ...Reflecting on the difference between patience and waiting, I wonder what distinguishes one from the other. Patience requires waiting of course. Each appears outwardly inactive. ...  Read More