Tuesday’s special election for Newberg City Council did not go as I was hoping. This morning I met with Derek Carmon, one of the newly elected councilors, at his request. I am grateful for his time, his desire to meet face to face, his commitment …
Read MoreLittle Communities
(Message given December 18, 2022 at Wayside Friends Church) How do we look honestly at this world, and still find God’s work of hope? If you follow me online during this advent season, you may question whether I am truly looking for hope, because I …
Read MoreBest 90’s Christmas Song—Round 1
Here is our bracket after the play-in round: We had some robust voting numbers—thank you for participating! Now, the top six seeds are in matchups, so you have some new songs to listen to as we vote down from 16 to 8 on our way …
Read MoreBest 90’s Christmas Song—Play-in Round
Whew. We’ve got 26 submissions again (I added one of my own to be able to use the same bracket as last time), lots of Amy Grant, lots of Koskela Family Nostalgia™ backing Steven Curtis Chapman, BIG voices in Whitney, Mariah, and Celine, and quite …
Read MoreA Caring Newberg
Many misleading statements have fueled changes in the Newberg I love. (Addendum added below on Dec. 13, 2022) This is the poster that mobilized people to create the COPS PAC and overturn the Newberg School Board: A desire to make our school and community welcoming …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Finals
Little sister has triumphed over big sister. Flesh and Blood conquers hand-guided cloth figures. The Muppets, a plucky 20 seed winning upset after upset, are finally defeated. It’s time for one last round of voting…will Elizabeth Curtis Gemeroy’s Advent dreams come true? Voting deadline is …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 3
Almost a clean sweep of what-in-the-world voting. At least The Porter’s Gate got through. And at least I can watch you all cry in anguish as you decide between your beloved Muppets and Amy Grant. You can vote I guess. If you want. This is …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 2
My pleas saved Audrey Assad, but likely just for one round, because now she faces she-who-is-Christmas, Amy Grant. But thanks to Jenn Perez for creating a Spotify playlist with all of these songs, so many new to me and so good. I genuinely love the …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 1
Round 1? But we already voted once! Ah, yes, dear friends, but that was the play-in round, because we were so inundated with submissions! We now are at the 16 songs we usually vote for…although we have a sneaky 20 seed that made its way …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting & Longing—Play-in Round
26 entries! Amazing. Thanks to all who contributed, and it makes for an extra round of voting this time. Listening to all of these, I realize there are so many different ways to evaluate: Does the lyric convey waiting and longing? Does the music? And, …
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