Unconventional

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image by Red Rocks Baptist Church

image by Red Rocks Baptist Church

Who is this Baby?

Tim Riter December 25, 2017

I loved my grandkids when they were babies. They cuddled and desperately needed us adults. But they didn't stay in that infant state. Nor did Jesus stay at the stage we celebrate at this time of year. What does that mean for our daily lives?

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In Happenings Tags Christmas, Manger Scenes, Jesus Identity, Following Jesus, Grace, Truth, spiritual formation, Christian Living
image by heavy.com

image by heavy.com

Unseen Forces

Tim Riter December 18, 2017

November 5, 2017, a day that shook us to our core, both individually and nationally. A gunman invaded the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, TX, killing 26 people. Although  out of town that Sunday, the pastor, Frank Pomeroy, gave a sermon the week before that gained wide coverage, “You Don’t Need Training Wheels, You Need Christ!” He taught on Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” His Harley parked in front of the pulpit, Pomeroy told how bikers need to...

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In Happenings Tags Frank Pomeroy, First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs, Motorcycles, Lean, Unseen World, Seen World, Trust in God, Spiritual Formation, Christian Living
Cactus Sedona.jpg

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--Right?

Tim Riter December 11, 2017

Decades back, I learned to not sweat the small stuff. Some problems and irritations just aren’t worth getting stressed over—they merely upset us and nothing changes for the good. At times we should be a duck—let the small stuff roll off our backs like water off a duck. But last week at Sedona Arizona, I learned to ...

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In Happenings Tags Sweat the Small Stuff, Evaluate, Sedona, Chapel of the Holy Cross, spiritual formation, Christian Living, Jesus, Image of God
Handicapped.jpg

My Latest, and Maybe Greatest, New Temptation

Tim Riter December 4, 2017

The pic above reveals my latest, and maybe greatest, new temptation. No, not a Honda S2000 sports car, one that tempts me to break every speed limit I can. No, just a regular and slow 4 cylinder Accord. But with a handicapped plate, one that allows the vehicle to park free at meters instead of paying a fee, to park close to stores instead of six miles away, and even to use high occupancy lanes when alone. So why the temptation? I’m not handicapped. Now, my wife has fibromyalgia and qualifies, but only when she’s in the vehicle. Frankly, I’d ...

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In Happenings Tags Driving, Breaking Traffic Laws, Self Will, Selfishness, Handicapped Placards, Temptation, Sin, Christian Living, spiritual formation
image by Easy and Elegant Life

image by Easy and Elegant Life

Goodwill to All?

Tim Riter November 27, 2017

Filled with peace from a challenging worship service, having enjoyed an unusually small crowd at Trader Joe’s to pick up just three items, rejoicing in the onset of the Christmas season once Thanksgiving meals have been digested, heading home to watch my Rams on TV, in the fullness of time I needed to move over to the right side of the two lane road. A large dark SUV cruised half a car length...

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In Happenings Tags Christmas, Goodwill, Sharing Grace, Driving, Texting, Rudeness, Forgiveness, Christian Living, spiritual formation
Tweak Lot.jpg

Tweak It a Lot

Tim Riter November 20, 2017

After enjoying our backyard waterfall for over a year, some serious tweaking came due. Despite our treating the water, the heat of summer caused a lot of algae to grow in the bottom of the pond, and quite a bit of debris had fallen in, like leaves and dust, slowing down the flow noticeably. And worst of all, when I constructed it, no rocks were placed around the sides of the pond, and the black liner showed. Not many Sierra streams reveal plastic lining. For the first step...

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Tags Home Repair, Soul Repair, Tweak, Changes, Improvement, Spiritual Formation, Christian Living, Fountains, Waterfalls
Razors.jpg

A Man and His Razor

Tim Riter November 13, 2017

Most men shave most days, and it’s funny the bond you can build with an inanimate object. My face has developed a close friendship with a Gillette Mach 3 razor, ever since a friend, who worked for Gillette, gave me one 15 years ago. I now suspect he merely desired to induce me to buy Mach 3 blades. If so, he won—a lot went on my Costco credit card. That Gillette served me well and pleased me, until last July. On a motorcycle trip to Taos, my longtime friend and riding partner gave me a Schick Quattro, which amazed me at how smoothly it glided over my skin. It gave me a close shave with just one pass of the blade. But…

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In Happenings Tags Razors, Gillette, Schick, Change, Logic, Emotion, Christian Living, Spiritual Formation
Bacon Cooking.jpg

Misery--A Choice?

Tim Riter November 6, 2017

In early October around mid afternoon, the F150 pulled into a campground on Rock Creek. Gear quickly shifted from the truck to the site, I used a flex hose to connect the propane tank to my camp stove, and headed down to the stream for some solo fishing. Not another fisherfolk in sight, and the trout bit eagerly. A great beginning, and I cleaned the two keepers. Time now for dinner, so I got the tamales and chili ready to heat, but the stove

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In Happenings Tags Bacon, Misery, Frustration, Failure, Problems, Joy, Peace, Spiritual Formation, Christian Living, Rock Creek
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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