(Back to part 1) On Time Team, the fun part is the finds; digging in the trench, discovering something, and then pulling the expert over to talk about what the find tells us about the story, about the context. Now that we’ve had the crash …
Read MoreTwo-thirds of a life
It was 36 years ago, tonight. Vivid in my mind, I can still feel the bricks of the hearth under me as I sit, hear the laughter of people I love around me, see the streaks of black and blue on my own right ankle …
Read MoreWhat story are we in? (Part 5)
(Back to part 1) So we’ve had our crash course in the story handed to us. We now can bravely try to play the part of “biblical pottery expert”, as we begin to examine little pieces of the current story, the little shards of incidents …
Read MoreWhat story are we in? (Part 4)
(Back to part 1) Is there a way out of this human cycle of rescue, home, institution, oppression? In just a short time after the dedication of the temple, oppression rises as political power distances from Yahweh and tries to extend its own reach. As …
Read MoreWhat story are we in? (Part 3)
(Back to part 1) Longing for home leads to a desire for safety, security, and power. The wandering people of Israel conquer the land they believe they were promised (perhaps blaming God in their holy texts for their own horrendous choice of genocide.) They take …
Read MoreWhat story are we in? (Part 2)
(Back to part 1) The story begins with oppression and cries for rescue. At least, that’s one way to tell the beginning of the story of the people of Israel. Alternative arguments can be made for when Abraham left Ur to go to the land …
Read MoreWhat story are we in? (Part 1)
Can we make a story out of this rubble? A deep dive through YouTube one night led to my latest nerdy obsession: Time Team. The BBC produced this archaeological reality-tv show for 20 years, beginning in 1994. Typical of my tv watching habits, I’m just …
Read MorePresident Garfield’s 1881 inaugural address
A few weeks ago I saw a tweet about President Garfield’s inaugural address in 1881. I knew nothing about Garfield other than his name. The tweet said it was the first inaugural since Lincoln to address slavery, and it would take 30 years before it …
Read MoreNewberg School Board History
(I am writing this as a private citizen to share my perspective and thoughts around the Newberg School Board over the last several years. These are my personal thoughts, not in any way an aspect of my job.) With the exception of one meeting during …
Read MoreCarol of the Bells—and the winner is…
A 12 seed goes all the way! Congrats to VasilisV! Sorry I dropped out there for a few days…a bit crushed with busyness. But now a bit of breathing space, and I’ll be working on the “O Little Town of Bethlehem” bracket (which means you …
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