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image from commons.wikimedia.org

image from commons.wikimedia.org

Suck It Up

Tim Riter April 18, 2016

Life can suck us dry. Home life. Work life. Economic life. Family life. Yeah, the list can go on. We get exhausted and have little to give. We need a break, some rest, like the lion above. A time to refill spiritually, emotionally, physically, relationally. But we can't seem to find, or create, a break in the fast pace. Even so, sometimes we need to suck it up. Not always, but sometimes. Here's why...

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In Reflection, Poetry Tags Rest, Depletion, Tiredness, Grief, Restoration, Sabbath, spiritual formation
image from reelyredd.com

image from reelyredd.com

The Duel

Tim Riter February 8, 2016

The hopeful Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates have become quite testy with one another just before the New Hampshire primary, eagerly pointing out character flaws and ignorance and incompetence, which merely confirms the disgust many of us have toward the politicians in Washington. But the worst of this cannot match the first levels of political disagreement in our country.Aaron Burr served as Vice President ...

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In Reflection Tags Duels, Political Anger, spiritual formation, Absolute Truth, Love
image by maristpoll.marist.edu

image by maristpoll.marist.edu

Voting Our Values

Tim Riter January 18, 2016

Immigration. Terrorism and war. Welfare and entitlements. Abortion. The economy. Crime. Drug legalization. Gay marriage. These topics dominate conversations and the airwaves. Yep, another election year. And I'm sure you're eagerly awaiting my input on how you should vote...not. But I will anyway, because ...

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In Reflection Tags Immigration, Gay Marriage, Terrorism, Elections, Voting, Values, Welfare, Drug Legalization
image by Aliane Kramarik

image by Aliane Kramarik

Jesus. Who Was He? Really?

Tim Riter December 28, 2015

Before beginning, or getting immersed, in a relationship, we're better off knowing as much as we can about a person's nature, character, values, and beliefs. Haven't we all been hurt, or betrayed, by someone we thought we knew? Or, pleasantly surprised? For us, who want to follow Jesus, knowing who he is becomes even more critical. Our lives, our eternal destinies, depend on that.

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In Reflection Tags Jesus, Historical Jesus, Assumptions, Worldview, Divinity, Creation

The Worth of a Person

Tim Riter December 14, 2015

The time arrived to sell my first car, a yellow 1964 Falcon Futura, much like the one above, so to save every cent for the next vehicle I consulted a friend in the car business. I wanted a dollar figure on its worth, but he surprised me, "Tim, the car is worth as much, and no more, than you can get a person to pay for it." The implications of that concept have followed me for decades, and they directly impact the level of our intimacy with God. Our intimacy directly connects to the depth of our connection.

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In Reflection Tags Self Worth, Egotism, Humility, Narcissism
image by dreamstime.com

image by dreamstime.com

Out of Darkness

Tim Riter November 30, 2015

OK, it's time! A few weeks ago I did a humorous tongue in cheek rant about how early some began to celebrate Christmas. Two weeks before Thanksgiving is too soon for outside lights and Facebook posts! So now that we've finished the Thanksgiving weekend, it's time for Christmas to begin. But why now? I mean, why do we celebrate thebirth of Jesus on December 25? Most of us know ...

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In Reflection Tags Christmas, Winter Solstice, Pagan Celebrations, Co opting Christmas, spiritual formation
pilot whale image by whoi.com

pilot whale image by whoi.com

Reluctant Obedience

Tim Riter October 26, 2015

Jesus statements often haunt me. Particularly "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). Not should, might, or may. Will. Why was that word so definite? Because loving Jesus means loving his life, loving what he wants us to become. Realizing that comprises the heart of a loving relationship: he is both Savior and Lord. The reverse seems obvious--if we have no desire to obey Jesus, we...

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In Reflection Tags Jonah, Whales, Obedience, Reluctance, Disobedience, Grace, spiritual formation

A River, A Family, A Faith

Tim Riter October 12, 2015

This post comes weighted with a significant amount of trepidation. First, in our two years together, posts that focus on how faith touches current affairs tend to draw the most interest. This one will not directly do that. Second, readers who love action-filled and fast-paced stories, or those who have no interest in fly fishing, might not get grabbed right away by our central story. But I encourage you hang in there, because our topic has tremendous relevance to our walk with Jesus. The pic above comes from the movie A River Runs Through It, taken from

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TimGlacierMcDonald.jpg

A bit of an unreconstructed Jesus freak. Almost old enough to have known him when he walked this world. About 27 on the inside. Investing his life in university and teen students. Inveterate cross country motorcycle rider. Nature lover. Entranced with the power of written and spoken words. Still learning.

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Unconventional

Old Faith, New Following