Strangers, Angels and Us There was a time when I didn't identify much with strangers. Along with the ever-present caution, "don't talk to strangers," I was born and raised in the same home and community for the first 20 years of my life. I went to the same school as my tw... Read more
What would you do, that you can't do, because you are a pastor? Question: What would you do that you can't do because you are a pastor?What would you do that you can't do because you are a pastor?Let me take the liberty of broadening that a bit: Is there something I would want to do but I can't do because I am... Read more
Piece of Mind At times I wonder if it's all I have left "up there"—a piece of mind, that is. Solomon had me in his corner when he apologized "we do not know how to go out or come in. "Well, that's not it exactly…it's just, I can't remember why I was going out. ... Read more
"Does God Like Me?" If you have a question for P. J. you may e-mail him at the address below and he will give it his best shot. First of all, before we get to the question—let me say what a privilege and humble honor to be back in partnership with the GLEANER and have the opportunity to connect with youth from around the Northwest."Does God like me?" You know this is a que... Read more
A Nose-Worthy Issue When the first note came, we chuckled. One of our loyal readers complained that her issue of the GLEANER smelled so bad she could hardly stand it. An isolated incident, we thought. At times we have struggled with poor spelling, but never bad smell... Read more
Christmas in July Her eyes were riveted to the clock as she waited, timecard in hand, to end her shift. She would escape the torment of this dysfunctional torture chamber called work and roam the mall free for a hour or so of shopping before she had to pick up her ... Read more
Connecting and Reflecting at Rosario Beach Envision sitting on a beach around an orange and red, crackling campfire on a Sabbath evening. Grandmothers, parents and children are bundled against the cool twilight air. Kids dip their hands into frigid buckets of water to play with the crabs a... Read more
The Test of a True Christian A Pharisee once asked Jesus, “Which is the great commandment in the law?" Read more
Alive and Healing New Year’s Day a year ago I was in the hospital, recovering from an emergency appendectomy.I had abdominal pain the whole week between Christmas and New Year’s, not too bad, (I kept working) but bad enough that midweek I went to see the doctor. Sh... Read more