Online Sermon

This sermon in based on I Peter 2 and is called The Living Stone and A Chosen People. To listen to the sermon, click on the words "Online Sermon" above.

Online Sermon

This sermon is based on the text found in Psalm 51 and is called Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.To listen to the sermon, click on the words "Online Sermon" above.

Welcome to Mark's Musings

For a long time now, I have wanted to have a blog. In recent years, I’ve read some very creative ones, written by friends who have an obvious talent for putting their thoughts into words. As a pastor, I’d like to think this may be one of my gifts in the sermons that I preach and classes that I teach. But, writing a blog, without any particular focus, that’s a whole new mountain to climb. It’s kind of like the Jerry Seinfeld show. When asked, “What is it about?” the answer was, “Nothing.” Seinfeld was about nothing and yet, we all loved it.

Actually, for a short time a few years ago, I had a blog. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I had the good fortune to spend almost 5-months serving with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For a time, I blogged my experiences in the days following that horrific event. But, unlike Seinfeld, that was about nothing, that blog was about something. It was about the terrible destruction of land and property, about dashed hopes and shattered dreams. But it was also about the unquenchable spirit of the people who, having lost everything, never gave up. It was about the graciousness and hospitality of the people who called Mississippi home. It was about volunteers coming from around the country to try and make a difference in the broken landscape, awash in the Mississippi mud along the Gulf Coast of, appropriately, “the hospitality state.” To be honest, it was pretty easy to blog about that event. I just took pictures, listened to the stories of the brave survivors and wrote it down.

I hope these musings may be of interest to some, even though for the most part, they may be about very little. This may just be an exercise whereby I develop new writing skills and put into words some life experiences, combined with thoughts on events, books, music, recipes, restaurants and hotels ideas that can be shared with others. For the most part, the backdrop will the life in the Pacific Northwest; a place I love and a place we call home. We’ll see. As always, your thoughts and comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Grace and peace.

Seattle Get-Away Weekend

Charlotte and I took off on Saturday morning, May 22, for an overnighter to Seattle. Sometimes you just “gotta’ get outta’ Dodge.” We headed for our favorite hotel in Seattle for a little R&R and to celebrate by birthday (it’s not until the 29th, but why not go the week before?). We enjoyed walking down Pine Street to the Pike Place Public Market, checked out the fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables and watched the fish mongers do their thing. On our way to dinner we made a stop at the Pike Pub and Brewery for a pint and more relaxed conversation. Charlotte tried their Scottish Ale called, Kilt Lifter. It was excellent. I had the Pike Tandem, a Belgian Ale, dark chocolate in color. It too was quite good. I think we both liked the the Kilt Lifter the best. Then it was off to the Crab Pot on the Alaskan Highway for a unique dining experience. While they have many things on their menu, their specialty is what they call “Sea Fest” (pictured above). While noshing on sourdough bread and butter, they cover your table with butcher paper and bring a bib, a small plank of wood, and a mallet for each person. There are four (4) different “Sea Fests” offered on the menu and depending on which one you order, they boil clams, mussels, oysters, crab and shrimp (yes, with their heads and legs), potatoes and corn on the cob, in special sea-food spices, then literally dump it all on your table. We had the “Clambake” and it included skewered salmon and halibut. The food was AWESOME, a veritable feast, great fun and a time well spent with my Beloved. 

After a wonderful afternoon in Seattle and a great dinner, it was back to the hotel for champagne, chocolate, a Mariners game on TV, a good book and relaxing time away from everything. Little escapes, like this, really are good for the soul.

Grace and peace