The Liberating Power of One

Last updated on: June 17, 2010 at 8:07 am By Richard Dahlstrom

As I’m reading along in the II Kings 17, I come to this little phrase, “The Songs of Israel did things secretly which were not right, against the Lord their God”. I put the Bible down, feeling like there’s something important in the air, something that needs digesting. I’ve had countless conversations over the years about the disillusionment and bitterness that grow inside people because it is eventually discovered that there’s a Grand Canyon of distance between the leader’s private... Read more

A favor please?

Last updated on: June 16, 2010 at 10:33 pm By Richard Dahlstrom

Many thanks to those of who took a moment to answer the survey! I’ve gathered enough feedback (or all I can at the “free” level of survey monkey) so it’s now closed. I’ve finished a new book about hope, and I’m presently working with the publisher on finalizing a title. It would help me a great deal if you’d take a moment to fill out a survey it would help my publisher and I make a decision. I’ll tell you... Read more

Fries and Fast Cars…the problem with oil

Last updated on: June 15, 2010 at 8:38 am By Richard Dahlstrom

As the oil spill in the Gulf approaches its two month anniversary, we who read widely find ourselves swimming in an ocean of commentary on the tragedy. There’s enough blame to go around, it seems, as suddenly the tea party is begging for big government to step and solve the problem, and Obama is looking for someone to kick because, of course, it’s the corporation that’s to blame. It’s what’s missing in the blame game, however, that’s most tragic of... Read more

Fries and Fast Cars…the problem with oil

Last updated on: June 15, 2010 at 8:38 am By Richard Dahlstrom

Wooden Gold – Thanks John

Last updated on: June 9, 2010 at 9:19 am By Richard Dahlstrom

John Wooden's faith in Christ wasn't loud, but it was powerful. Read about it in this blog post. Read more

The Paradox of Contentment and “Not Yet”

Last updated on: June 8, 2010 at 12:03 pm By Richard Dahlstrom

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrew 11:13 Someday I’ll overcome my penchant for self-destructive choices that seem to afflict me from time to time, like eating dessert for lunch and skipping out on any real food, or watching TV instead of exercising, or disengaging from an honest conversation out fear. Someday I’ll make the... Read more

A step towards Abounding in Hope

Last updated on: June 7, 2010 at 12:27 pm By Richard Dahlstrom

When we ran a wilderness thing in the mountains, we had a fun little game we’d play on our ropes course. These adventure courses and team building are, to be blunt, a little cliche these days. As a result, very few people were interested in just climbing rope ladders, jumping off poles, and falling backwards into some outstretched arms. To make things more exciting, we had our over-confident participants do the ropes course blindfolded. They’d climb the rope ladder and... Read more

Brian’s Song: confusing words on a slippery slope

Last updated on: June 4, 2010 at 10:39 am By Richard Dahlstrom

I’ll start by saying that many of Brian McLaren’s books have been great reads. I read “the church on the other side” years ago, which gave voice to some important cultural shifts as “post-modernity” was becoming a common phrase in theological circles. Two things stood out in that book as important and true: 1. Brian didn’t challenge the notion of absolute truth. Instead he challenged the human capacity to apprehend truth perfectly, and communicate it accurately, so that it might... Read more

Evolution, Waltke, and the Pandora Problem…

Last updated on: June 2, 2010 at 9:42 am By Richard Dahlstrom

I love Pandora. Not the goddess; the software. I love creating ultra-personalized radio stations based entirely on my tastes. I love knowing that because my artists, and somethings like them, are all that will be played, I’ll never be disappointed again while listening to music, and if I am, I can punish Pandora with a “thumbs down” rating on a song and rest assured that my tastes have been even further refined. As a result, though, I’ve become way less... Read more

The things we picked up…step by step

Last updated on: May 31, 2010 at 4:21 pm By Richard Dahlstrom

I’m taking a break from the news, for at least this one moment in time. Instead of writing about Jennifer’s coming out, or Bruce’s getting kicked out, I want to take a moment and talk about my family. We’d all cleared our schedule for this past weekend because my oldest daughter is moving to Europe for two years and this was our time to celebrate being a family. We enjoyed some time together in the mountains. We ate steaks and... Read more