a lot, but some of my most impressive ideas or solutions come when I stop talking and just listen for a minute. Inevitably, five minutes later, I’m asking for forgiveness for the 17 tangents my mind has gone down while trying to listen.

I created a Social Club for my neighborhood here in Coeur d’Alene. I’m all for staying in my own lane and being a bit introverted (am I really?), but I just think it’s crazy not to know who your neighbors are or form a working relationship with them. In Missouri, we lived out in the middle of nowhere. One neighbor attempted to help me get an 18-wheel mulch delivery truck unstuck, (a story requiring much more space than this blog!), another had kids that would run through the barbed-wire fence that we cut a hole in so they had a path back and forth across the fields, and the very old lady up the road who always offered the kids Coca-Cola that was over five years expired was overjoyed when I volunteered to help her tend her huge garden in exchange for some of the goods. It was a great life, and it was fun.
 
Last summer, when I walked and walked and walked up and down our hill, I met all kinds of great people, got house tours, sniffed beautiful flowers, was handed fresh heirloom tomatoes … all the things that happen when you take a moment to connect with the people around you. My life is pretty busy right now (for nine months out of the year anyway), but I’m a long-range planner, and I don’t want to be lonely or bored when I’m 90. I want to sit around playing card games and going to the coffee shops for breakfast; listening to live music, going on bus tours, just stuff. Our church in Missouri had a whole program for the Senior Citizens and even bought a big van for them. They went all over the state doing activities, and I always thought it looked like so much fun.
 
Therefore, I created the Sky Harbor Social Club. Some people focus on financial planning (Steve), and I focus on social planning. I took Post-It notes on a walk one Sunday afternoon and attached them to the doors of homes of people that I thought might enjoy being with one another. I left my name and phone number, said I wanted to have a Christmas party in the neighborhood, and waited to see what would happen. As a bonus, RING doorbells really escalate the adventure of leaving things on front doors. Hahaha!
 
Every single household responded. I set the date, someone volunteered to host, and everyone brought food to share. When we did the initial introductions, I explained who I thought would like whom, who needed to discuss upcoming home renovations with whom, and paired up those I knew had similar interests. We’ve since done four or five group activities and keep adding to the group's size.
 
Now, the moral of the story. You can come to church, greet those around you during the meet-and-greet break, and sneak out the back stairs if you want. I totally get that. When we first visited 1st Pres, I didn’t think a name tag was necessary, and I was certain that I didn’t want to stand around eating doughnuts with strangers. But then they started talking about small groups, sign-ups in Krueger Hall … all of the stuff they talk about every week during announcements. So, we branched out, walked down the ramp, and had coffee. Now I have a reusable name tag (with a title on it, no less!), and I’ve learned to mix the vanilla mocha with the coffee for a true Sunday morning treat! These are the things you learn when you step out of your comfort zone for just a minute. 
 
I see a lot of you from my spot in the choir loft out there in our age range. Join an activity. Grab a doughnut. (Full disclosure — ​I now take my doughnuts to go, as I once wore chocolate frosting for hours due to a mishap. But I love the chocolate ones!). Join the choir, haha! We’ll be singing every Sunday again before you know it. Join the handbell choir — either one guarantees a lot of laughs and a built-in friend group. Play pickleball, even if you don’t know how. Make a quilt or whatever they do on Friday mornings. There are so many things! And who knows — maybe by the time I’m 90, we’ll have a 1st Pres Senior Citizen party bus.
 
In His Name, Renee​

these fires remind us of life's fragility and the importance of holding onto what truly matters.

In these challenging times, Scripture offers comfort:  
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​These verses do not promise that difficulties won’t arise or that we won’t experience fear and sadness. Instead, they encourage us to bring our concerns to God. This peace does not depend on our circumstances being perfect; it comes from knowing that God is with us, even in times of uncertainty. When you are worried, grieving, or exhausted from waiting, pray. We can pray today and trust God to carry our burdens and grant us a peace that surpasses understanding.

To those who have lost their homes, your loss matters; may God comfort you. To those waiting to return, may God give you strength. And to those offering help, remember that your kindness reflects God's love.

Lord, for every family affected, draw them close to you. Bring them comfort and strength. Help us remember that You are near, even in the midst of uncertainty.

​In His Name, Stephanie

it back out of the hole unless the object is released. In the book, this is how Billy gets his raccoon hide, but the trap was so upsetting to Billy that he vows never to use it again.

If you have ever had a loved one trapped by some harmful habit, then you probably understand how Billy felt. There is the helpless creature trapped because they won’t let go of their shiny prize, wailing from misery. In my life, I have had many things I would not let go of even though they caused me pain and even destruction. I have had the sad burden of watching loved ones trapped in addictions and horrible life choices, and at times it feels like all I can do is stand by and watch them wail in misery. 

So often the misery we have in life is the result of sin. Sins we have committed or sins that have been committed against us. We can have many debates on what is sinful, but perhaps a discussion on what sin is might serve us better for the moment. 

Sin looks shiny. 

Sin says “this is good”, “you deserve it”, “take all you want.” A little while later, Sin changes the conversation and says, “it’s not that bad”, “everyone else is doing the same or worse”, “you can stop or change anytime you want.” Then, much quicker, Sin drastically changes the conversation: “So what if it’s bad? Do you think you are better than this?” “No one else will forgive what you have done”, “why bother trying to stop, and you couldn’t even if you wanted to.” 

It is somewhere in this place that Sin reveals what it truly is: a trap. 

When someone is caught in a trap, they need someone outside of themselves to get free. Perhaps one of the reasons the Bible refers to sin as a trap is to lead us to the idea of a Rescuer. Sin is a powerful, crafty enemy bent on destruction, and what is needed is someone more powerful than sin. What we need is Jesus. 

Jesus knows we are trapped; He can see our suffering; it is the very reason He came to live among us. Out of compassion, Jesus gets real honest with us and asks the simple question, “What are you holding on to?” Then He begins speaking truth without belittling the human soul. Jesus bids us to lay down our burdens and take hold of something better, His hand. When we drop our shiny sins and take hold of Jesus, we find true freedom. 

Those of us who have let go and taken hold of Jesus know that sin is still waiting around trying to entice us with some new version of shiny delight. Because we are still human, we sometimes take hold of sin thinking we can play around a little, or sometimes we don’t even realize we have fallen into sin’s trap. Each time, Jesus lovingly comes along and reminds us of the truth until we are willing to let go. Once we let go, Jesus takes hold of our hand to walk in freedom once again. 

So much of the Christian life is Jesus teaching us how to be free. Free from the traps of sin, free to worship, free to live and hope once again. 

As one believer to another, what are you holding on to today? 

In His Name, Bonnie

​door was a smoker as the 2nd hand smoke poured into my unit from the overhead ventilation system. It was mildly annoying but not enough to make a fuss about.

But then…I realized she was also not a “friendly” person, so to speak. She started opening her door and watching me park in the stall next to hers (just in case I got too close to her car, I guess). One day she flew out of her unit to advise me it was my fault that she hit the beam next to her stall because I parked too close to the line. Needless to say, I also noticed her glasses were two inches thick. As she got nastier and more unpleasant in the coming days/weeks, I became miserable with my choice of moving. After all, she had been there for 16 years and reminded me repeatedly that she had seniority. Over what, I’m not sure.

One night I was so upset I cried to God and unloaded just how angry and sad I was about the situation. After I was somewhat calm, I felt the Holy Spirit remind my heart that He would fight my battles. So, I begged Him to take these circumstances and offer me some kind of an open door or resolution.

Well … I’m not exactly certain how many days later (under a week for sure), I was up in Sandpoint having lunch with my brother, and I received a phone call. “Is this Susan Olson?” “Yes”. “Do you live in Unit 21 and are you home right now?” “Yes, I do, and no, I’m not”. The officer then told me NOT to come home for a while as they were arresting the man in the unit next door.
 
He did not tell me what unit or any other information. On the heels of that call, the property manager called me five minutes later and said they were trying to complete an inspection in the unit that the smokers were in, and a nephew, who also lived there, had pulled a knife on the maintenance man!
 
Apparently, the SWAT team had to show up and surround the units as he barricaded himself in! They were evicted and out 30 days later. I like to believe that God sent me that SWAT team and the victory was His. “Being still” does not mean being lazy or passive but choosing faith over fear and frustration. Sometimes I just need to remember “being still” is better than depending on my own competence to struggle.
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God, the battle is Yours, and I will do my best to stay out of Your way as You fight on my behalf.
 
With His blessing,
Susie