Super Bowl 50

Tim Riter February 15, 2016

Superbowl 50: a marvelous defensive game, particularly by the Denver Broncos. Close fought, except for the final score. Two dueling quarterbacks with different styles, one a rising star who moves well, the other the veteran epitome of a pocket passer. Blend in a bit of controversy, with the losing quarterback giving a short, curt postgame interview, one that garnered a load of comments, mostly negative, prompting him to explain his conduct. But lost in the resulting discussion was ...

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 ...

Know the Times

Tim Riter February 1, 2016

John Thurston, whose house is above, raised his grandson, my father, when my granddad abandoned his new family. Thurston rassled a grizzly and won (otherwise I wouldn't be writing this). He knew the world he lived in, and navigated it well. How about us?

Be Nice to be Godly

Tim Riter January 25, 2016

Decades back, I first knew her when she was in the college group I led. We've stayed in touch over the years and I appreciate how she thinks. Her Facebook post this morning struck quite a chord with a number of readers.

” I am having breakfast at a cute place... A nice little family just came in. They have not ...

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 ...

Purpose and Productivity

Tim Riter January 11, 2016

Two months ago, Sheila and I enjoyed God's creativity in Park City UT, while exploring the history of my dad's family up there. One day we headed to the Olympic Park in hopes of riding a bobsled (no luck, we were in between the summer and winter seasons, but we did see the top 5 US luge drivers practicing!). Next to the road, the McPolin barn above entranced me. The largest I'd ever seen at 8969 sq. ft., it enclosed the milking operation, hay storage, and a lot more. But the largest impact came when...

Saying No to the Good

Tim Riter January 4, 2016

Today taught me something about myself--I may be more prone to some addictions than I imagined. Here's the story. If you've read Unconventional enough, you likely realize I'm not much of a legalist. Yes, let's follow biblical commands, not as the way into faith but to express faith. BUT. I appreciate Sunday's focus on God and worship and rest. And I have no problems with doing some stuff on these days. But...

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.

Unconventional

Old Faith, New Following