Red State Wildfire

I investigated several wildfire-ravaged landscapes during my career, and the Hermosa Creek watershed in Colorado was one of the most beautiful. This post is meant to show some of Earth’s more recent climate change challenges, not to be particularly political. Let me explain the catchy title. In Spanish, the word colorado means “colored red” or … Read more

Juxtaposition: Safe on a Cliff Edge

No one has accused me of being out of touch with real life or being unable to imagine what truly downtrodden and suffering people must endure. But the accusation could be justified. Mine has been a cushy life. Not that I inherited wealth or was born with any amazing gifts. But white privilege has not … Read more

not selling

I receive a steady stream of emails via this website that all assume I am trying to make money. They figure I’m a business, with the need for marketing my products and an incentive to pull traffic, get clicks, and attract eyeballs. examples from three separate prospecting emails: Drive targeted traffic to your website with … Read more

different planets of belief

I want to describe an extended spiritual conversation with my friend, Sydney. We think so differently that one could suggest we come from different planets. But our attempts to communicate do not bring too much frustration to either of us. We seem to have a tolerance, bordering on love. The challenge of understanding causes us, … Read more

good things

Many of us avoid the news these days. We might check in now and then, but it is so consistently depressing that who can blame anyone for not subjecting themselves? Here’s a post to give you a little joy, maybe. Remember how Julie Andrews sang in The Sound of Music about her favorite things? When … Read more

Origins and Hot Water

This travelogue covers driving to Havre, Montana, where a grandfather and two great-grandfathers had early twentieth-century homesteads, then down to Yellowstone National Park. A cousin suggested this trip, since he had been to neither place. His mother and my father were born in a little house on the high plains prairie north of Havre, about … Read more

Spirit and Truth

On Sundays, many Christians go to worship services. They believe that expressing love and appreciation for their Creator is beneficial not only to themselves but also to the community. The various denominations differ in their forms of worship. Some mega-churches feature large bands and advanced audio equipment, accompanied by dynamic performances with talented singers. Some, … Read more

Just Say No to Intelligent Design

In this post, I appeal primarily to Christians who underestimate the harm caused by the mistaken beliefs driving Intelligent Design. But this article may also be of interest to others, as it partially explains prevalent anti-science behaviors of today. What is Intelligent Design, and why does it matter? Wikipedia has several articles, but you could … Read more

Rivers Make Serene Metaphors

Most people like rivers. Their continuous flow fascinates us. We watch their eddies, try to penetrate their depths, wonder about things floating in their currents. Rivers serve as many useful metaphors. For planet Earth, liquid water is its lifeblood and rivers its arteries. A few are in arid regions and run dry, but for most, … Read more