by Sam Millen, 4 November 2017 October 31st has come and gone.  No, I’m not referring to Halloween in America, but All Hallows’ Eve (All Saint’s Eve) in Germany 500 years earlier.  On October 31st, 1517, the German monk and theology professor Martin Luther decided to nail his 95 Theses against Indulgences on the Bulletin Board […]

by Sharan Bennett, 23 October 2017 I am supine, the only motionless individual in this large, bright room. Around me hover blurry figures in blue “scrubs” and puffy caps; they seem to move purposefully; all extraneous conversation has ceased. My head is in a brace—not uncomfortable, really, but authoritative. At my left side, a pretty woman […]

by John Bryan, 15 October 2017 Awe—three letters that define the feeling of reverence as it intermingles with fear and wonder. In the simplicity of those letters is captured the emotion felt by all who witnessed the eclipse this August. It is difficult not to have been overtaken by the event: Joy and fear mixed […]

By S M Chen, posted Sept 25, 2017   Picasso reported a theft By art thieves who barely had left. “Did you see them?” cops prodded. “I think so.” He nodded. “Perhaps you could sketch them To help us to ketch them.” *** So he sat down to draw And they watched him with awe. […]

By S M Chen, posted Sept 19, 2017    [Based on Joshua 20] My sister was a young woman in the bloom of youth. She lived at home, as unmarried females were wont to do. She was not betrothed. It was dusk and, although the time of day was a bit later than usual, Sara went […]

By S M Chen, posted Sept 16, 2017    “A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one.” –J. P. Morgan (1837-1913), American financier and banker I was a youngster of perhaps six when I first became aware of the word “motive.” Late one afternoon, when the […]

By S M Chen, posted 9/7/2017    “We are who we choose to be.”- Willem Dafoe, in “Spider-Man” Someone near and dear to me is writing a book. I’ve had the privilege of proofreading and editing it somewhat. I find the topic fascinating and relatable. It led me to begin thinking about stories, their commonalities and […]

 By S M Chen, posted Aug 15, 2017     “New ideas pass through 3 periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along.” –Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008), British writer (‘2001:A Space Odyssey’), inventor, explorer, TV series host […]

By S M Chen, posted Aug 8, 2017    “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” –Psalm 139: 9, 10 It is one of my scheduled workdays. I work only occasionally […]

By Debbonnaire Kovacs, Aug 3, 2017 Our feature this week showcases this  year’s Gabe Reynaud Award winners, one of whom is Pastor Daron Pratt. He received the award for his innovative and creative use of social media (and balloons!) in family and children’s ministry. Balloon animals are involved! [Note to non-Southern Pacific readers: a “chook” […]

By Debbonnaire Kovacs, Aug 3, 2017 Our feature this week announces two winners of the Gabe Reynaud Award. One is Melissa Otto, solo singer/songwritier and subject of an earlier feature.  Hear Melissa sing here. To comment, click here.

By S M Chen, posted Aug 1, 2017    “Can we all get along?” – spoken by Rodney King, after the 1992 Los Angeles riots (which cost over a $1 billion; 63 died, 2363 were injured and 12,000 arrested) *** It was just another morning in paradise – or so it seemed. The sun shone brightly […]