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(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 …

(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 …

(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 …

(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 …

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 …

(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 …

After a brainstorm in the car 8 years ago, I started an Advent tradition of asking you all to help me discover the best version of a particular Christmas song. Little did I know that: A) it would start massive yelling fits in ALL CAPS; …

(Message given at Wayside Friends Church on October 24, 2021) I’m Gregg Koskela; my pronouns are he/him. Today’s scripture is Acts 3:1-10 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon. Now a man …

Imagine you are a Christian living in a fictitious Islamic country*. “Arabia” is a democracy, with remarkable freedoms—everyone has equal protection under the law, including you, as a religious minority. But you feel each day how you aren’t equal. You’re an accountant, with an impeccable …

(Message given at Wayside Friends Church on June 21, 2020) This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should …