Opinion / Worship
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Please forgive me | Worship
By my count, I’ve written about the Jewish High Holy Days at least 15 times for the Beacon Worship page, so some of the following may already be familiar to you. This year, Rosh... — Updated 9/21/2022
Belief, trust, and honor | Worship
How often we think about faith and our spiritual beliefs can be a measure of how well life works for us. What does faith mean to you, and do you consider yourself to be a person... — Updated 9/14/2022
Perhaps for each you'll agree: 'That would work, and let's do it now!' | Worship
Finger pointing is rampant and dominating the conversation, massive problems are re-crisply defined and loudly complained about, news shows and documentaries routinely close with th... — Updated 9/7/2022
Drops of kindness | Worship
When you think of kindness what comes to mind? Do you envision saying “please” and “thank you?” Or holding the door open for someone entering the store behind you? Maybe bei... — Updated 8/31/2022
Finding the right path in challenging times | Worship
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the youth of our church in the outdoors. While it was not the first time being outdoors with our youth, this particular... — Updated 8/24/2022
Unplugging | Worship
I enjoy social media. It can be a gift. There is a way that it makes us more connected than ever. It also gives us quick access to some of the finest music, film, arts, and... — Updated 8/24/2022
What is truth?
Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea. Most famously, he was the one who presided over the trial of Jesus. During an exchange recorded in John 18, Pi... — Updated 8/17/2022
The fly on the wall
Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran March 18, 2009, is by Jeff Dutra, former pastor of Family Life Center.... — Updated 8/10/2022
The kids are in trouble | Worship
Kids are in trouble. They feel more isolated, forgotten, and detached than ever before. The pandemic has made their lives difficult, but the crisis started long before that. In... — Updated 8/3/2022
Honoring our parents | Worship
Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran May 7, 2008 is by Mark Smith, former senior pastor of Mukilteo Presbyte... — Updated 7/27/2022
Where religion and state intersect | Worship
Voting is a civic right and responsibility. Voting is a moral obligation. Making sure that every eligible person has equal access to the ballot box is an act of good citizenry. In... — Updated 7/20/2022
People of all faith should join together against gun violence | Worship
We are at a crisis point with gun violence in America. It’s time for people of faith across our country to come together in the name of human life. Let’s be clear, all of... — Updated 7/13/2022
Call it what it is: War | Worship
Ever meet one of those people … you know … one of THOSE people … who just can’t stop talking about their diet? “My diet says this; my diet says that.” “I can’t eat... — Updated 7/6/2022
Protecting Free Speech | Worship
While Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen to temporarily suspend their door-to-door ministry due to the pandemic, their activity was almost permanently banned by one U.S. village in the late 1990s — that is until the United States... — Updated 7/4/2022
Our return home | Worship
“Keep your eye on the donut, but don’t just keep your eye on the hole inside the donut, or the donut itself, keep your eye on the whole donut including the space that surrounds... — Updated 6/29/2022
Bulletproof | Worship
Hello friends! I got all too indulgently spikey in my writing this time, selfishly allowing myself a big vent over the jaw-dropping and indefensible dithering of the leaders of the... — Updated 6/22/2022
The reason for power | Worship
In 2008, I was three years into my then career at FedEx Express in Hawthorne, California. I was in ASPIRE, which was an apprenticeship program to become an operations manager... — Updated 6/15/2022
Standing a little taller in adversity | Worship
Congratulations to all of the new graduates! What a wonderful achievement and a milestone in your young life. As you plan and prepare to enter into your next phase in life, I hope... — Updated 6/8/2022
Love is not safe | Worship
Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran Feb. 20, 2008 is by Mark Smith, former senior pastor of Mukilteo... — Updated 6/1/2022
Dealing with sudden loss | Worship
I am mourning the loss of a good friend. My high school friend Dean, who died unexpectedly recently at age 53, was a Gulf War Marine veteran. He also studied film in Paris and... — Updated 5/25/2022
Claiming the middle ground: On abortion, we're non-binary | Worship
“The abortion debate in America is often framed as a legal binary, with ‘pro-life’ people on one side and ‘pro-choice’ people on the other. But as the country approaches... — Updated 5/18/2022
Love one another | Worship
It is interesting to read throughout scriptures how important and often the word “love” is used. We read that faith, hope and love are central to all living, but that love is... — Updated 5/11/2022
How many of us ponder on what happens after we die? | Worship
I just lost my younger brother to cancer, and a few neighbors ask me what Muslims believe happens after death. I thought to share an overview of our faith’s fascinating... — Updated 5/4/2022
When the cup is empty | Worship
In our ordinary life, we’re like dreamers believing that the dream we’re having is real. We think we’re awake, but we’re not. We think that this busy mind of thoughts and... — Updated 4/27/2022
Now what? | Worship
Whew! Easter is over. I would venture to guess that kids call Easter their fourth favorite holiday (after Christmas, birthday, and Halloween). All that chocolate and other candies,... — Updated 4/20/2022
