During our recent trip to the Oregon coast, Kendall and I visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Of all the wonderful creatures we saw, I was particularly taken with the jellyfish and the sea otters. I could have watched them for hours, though for quite different reasons. The jellyfish moved with a gentle rhythm, their delicate bodies opening and relaxing as they drifted and pulsed through the water. Jellyfish are carried by currents, but they also propel themselves by contractin

September Series: Rest On Labor Day, we celebrate our labor by taking the day off. I like that arrangement, but perhaps we should call it No-Labor Day—a day to set aside our work and receive the gift of rest, guilt-free. This month, I am beginning a new series simply called Rest. We will explore physical Sabbath, rest for our souls, and how we can rest in God’s presence even while facing difficult or unresolved circumstances. But first, we need to give ourselves permission to

LESSONS FROM THE GARDEN · AUGUST SERIES Our little orchard is a lively place right now. The grapevine is laden with grapes, the wild blackberries are ripe, and the apples are slowly maturing. The deer—and Bear, Max, and Grace—are already enjoying the bounty. The dogs happily eat the apples whether they are ripe or not. Apparently, their philosophy is: If we can reach it, it must be ready. But the garden refuses to place everything on the same timetable. The blackberries do no

I have always loved the picture of the Lord preparing a table for us in the presence of our enemies. He does not always remove us from the battle before He feeds us. Sometimes the enemies are still present. The circumstances are still difficult. The accusations are still being hurled. The uncertainty has not yet cleared. Yet right there, in the middle of it all, the Lord prepares a place for us to sit. He spreads the table with everything we need—His presence, His peace, His