The Declaration of Independence, the document drafted and circulated in the colonies, sparked a revolution.  In our turbulent time we should remember that 1776 saw the people divided, those rebelling against the Crown of England in conflict with their neighbors… Continue reading

Do you think that the world owes you something regardless of your effort or abilities? The prosperity of the late 20th century gave many parents the notion that they should make sure that their children never had to struggle in… Continue reading

Around 6 on the evening of August 1, 2007, a bridge that spanned the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis was packed with traffic backed up by a construction project. Suddenly it collapsed. 111 vehicles including a school bus plunged downwards… Continue reading

Our Supreme Court wrapped up another year with some decisions that evoked concern or celebration, depending on a person’s convictions. Yesterday, 5 of the justices struck down a Louisiana law I thought was reasonable. But, I am not a judge,… Continue reading

Yesterday I looked out over a sparsely populated sanctuary with joy and sadness; joyful at the endurance of the church, sad at the impact of this pandemic on shared worship. How are you doing with the ‘social distance’ mandates?  A… Continue reading

Yesterday, after supper, I drove up the mountain to Montana Cemetery. In one corner of that little acre there is a monument marking the place of my late wife’s burial. Next to marble slab another marks the graves of my… Continue reading

How do you identify yourself? “Hello, I’m Jerry …” and then what? Gender? Race? Family? Job? Religion? Political persuasion?  America is currently torn apart by our loss of a sense of uniting identity. Talk with people who identify in most… Continue reading

The words of Jesus stopped me cold this morning, making me think. They are about loving instead of retaliating, that part about choosing to “Turn the other cheek.”  My inner dialogue went something like this. “Yes, Lord, those are nice… Continue reading

Are you angry?  So many Americans- left and right, black and white, young and old – are very angry right now.  As we struggle to understand what is happening to our country, when we deal with bloody wounds from old… Continue reading

Saturday I took a drive in my Jeep along the Delaware River with the top down. The smells of the forest, the bird songs, the shafts of sun through the canopies of leaves made for a great ride. On the… Continue reading