Staff Blog

ANXIETY’S SCORECARD

By Seth Gatchell | March 8, 2018

ANXIETY’S SCORECARD   March 5, 2018   I seem to use a scorecard ev’ry day: “How’s it going? Are things going my way?” “Are things finally ‘coming together’?” “Are struggles getting any easier?”   “Will they finally be in a good mood?” “Will she notice her crummy attitude?” “Did somebody notice what I did well?”…

A Hell of Mercy

By Seth Gatchell | February 6, 2018

Sometimes, it’s extremely difficult to see what God is doing through our suffering and pain. This poem is dedicated to making that a little clearer… A HELL OF MERCY   Augustine said his heart, like a haunted mansion, From which he found no rest; search for satisfaction. No escape could he find, tormented distractions, Ghosts…

The Viper

By Seth Gatchell | January 16, 2018

THE VIPER   January 14, 2018   I sat in a Togos, eating my chicken wrap, While two teenage coeds had mouths in hyper-flap. One rattled on and on, impossible to miss. She led us on a trip, into her heart’s abyss.   “My dad will not listen, his rules unbendable. Mom can’t relate to…

LIGHTHOUSE

By Seth Gatchell | December 8, 2017

Sometimes it seems my life is a wood sailing ship, An old three-masted ship, like Columbus’ trip. An Atlantic journey across uncharted seas, Some days pleasant and calm enjoying ocean’s breeze.   But so many days seem like sailing in a mist. It’s hard to see the shore, a wrong turn did I miss? On…

Christmas Words

By Lance Brown | November 24, 2017

There are words that we use around Christmas that we don’t think that much about. Sometimes we even use them (or sing them) without really noticing because they are so familiar. Here, in no particular order, are seven “Christmas Words” and a little about their origins, to liven up your yuletide conversations! Noel: The French…

IDENTITY

By Seth Gatchell | November 14, 2017

Looking in the mirror, who do I think I see? Do I see the real me? Or who you too see me? I think I also see a man still on the mend, Am I really all three? Quite a confusing blend!   I also see myself, the person I aspire. But often falling short,…

The Soldier

By Seth Gatchell | October 4, 2017

THE SOLDIER   October 4, 2017   The soldier loved gambling, the rolling of the dice, Breaks up monotony, though a fool’s paradise. “A God-forsaken land, a thousand miles from home, At discharge will I have post-traumatic syndrome?”   Punishment here, severe, death for two lousy thieves, Was the third one sentenced for just what…

Damaged

By Lance Brown | October 3, 2017

I was boating over the summer with some friends up at Lake Powell. The second or third day we were there, I hit a submerged rock at about 30 miles per hour. It bent the propeller severely, and the drive shaft a little bit as well. When we got back and I took the boat…

The Silver Lining of Loneliness

By Seth Gatchell | September 14, 2017

THE SILVER LINING OF LONELINESS   A sense of loneliness is inevitable. It’s so disconcerting, and so irritable. Can any one person fill the deepest caverns? Can spoonfuls of water fill the deepest cisterns?   Loneliness isn’t “bad,” not a “problem to solve.” Awakens deeper needs, mysteries to resolve! When we expect others, their love…