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Minister’s Message: Being ‘thank full?’

As a young dad, I remember teaching my toddler children to say “thank you,” gently reminding them after every gift or kindness. I wasn’t just… Continue reading

 

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Minister’s Message: Will your children always want to be part of your family?

When an older pastor was asked by a father if his young children would chose to remain part of his family after they grew up,… Continue reading

 

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Minister’s Message: Memento mori

In the early centuries of Christianity, the Desert Fathers — Christian monks who withdrew into the wilderness — practiced the strange and beautiful discipline of… Continue reading

 

Volunteers gather around a captured salmon during one of Cook Inletkeeper’s Mapping Salmon Habitat Solution field days in August<ins> 2025</ins>. Every year, Cook Inletkeeper creates programs designed to get community members involved with mapping salmon habitat.

Cook Inletkeeper program promotes community engagement

Backyard Salmonscapes aims to map undocumented salmon habitat with the help of volunteers.

Volunteers gather around a captured salmon during one of Cook Inletkeeper’s Mapping Salmon Habitat Solution field days in August<ins> 2025</ins>. Every year, Cook Inletkeeper creates programs designed to get community members involved with mapping salmon habitat.
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Minister’s Message: Considering the saints

This week, in many Christian churches, we celebrated a tradition called All Saints’ Day. It’s a time in our church year where we remember those… Continue reading

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The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce

Kenai chamber hosts 3rd annual Haunted Chamber

The haunted house-style maze collected donations for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank and Operation Children First.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce
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Minister’s Message: The ‘Unholidays’

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6 “Better a dry crust with peace than a house… Continue reading

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Minister’s Message: Yet, I will rejoice!

“When you look at the world, what is it that you see? People find all kinds of things, that bring them to their knees,” sang… Continue reading

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A man holds an American flag at a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Homer holds vigil for Charlie Kirk; highlights opening of local Turning Point Education private school

The vigil was organized in part by District 6 Rep. Sarah Vance.

A man holds an American flag at a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference attendees fill the room in Kachemak Bay Campus's Pioneer Hall during the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference announces 2026 keynote speaker, faculty list

The keynote speaker for the 2026 conference will be poet and essayist, Jane Hirshfield.

Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference attendees fill the room in Kachemak Bay Campus's Pioneer Hall during the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The author's puppy, Ruthie, is seen in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harber)

Minister’s Message: Prayer for peace

People are hurting — deep in our bones hurting.

The author's puppy, Ruthie, is seen in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harber)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: A quick insight into moose

It seems that my style insults some of the intelligentsia who author odes to tree moss and/or are devout lingcod whisperers.

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
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Minister’s Message: Coasting

Winning at work but losing at home is still losing.

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Minister’s Message: Seeing the invisible

Jesus is on the lookout for those who walk through life unnoticed.

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Minister’s Message: The Lord’s spiritual treasures are available to us all

The Bible says the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ.

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Having a ready team of work dogs made longer trips out of Seward more manageable for Steve Melchior. The woman accompanying him on the wagon is unidentified. (Photo courtesy of the Melchior Family Collection)

Steve Melchior: Treasured peninsula pioneer with a sketchy past — Part 7

Stephan “Steve” Melchior parleyed a partially fabricated past into a respected life as a miner and a builder in Alaska.

Having a ready team of work dogs made longer trips out of Seward more manageable for Steve Melchior. The woman accompanying him on the wagon is unidentified. (Photo courtesy of the Melchior Family Collection)
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: One brick at a time

I am from that “once upon a time” when no one swore in public.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
A group of friends hikes along the Resurrection Pass Trail on June 26, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Minister’s Message: A heart set on the journey

What step will you take this week toward God on your journey of faith?

A group of friends hikes along the Resurrection Pass Trail on June 26, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Steve Melchior in his Seward yard with two of his many dogs, probably circa mid-1920s. (Photo courtesy of the Melchior Family Collection)

Steve Melchior: Treasured peninsula pioneer with a sketchy past — Part 6

This moose-and-man journey attracted considerable attention nationwide.

Steve Melchior in his Seward yard with two of his many dogs, probably circa mid-1920s. (Photo courtesy of the Melchior Family Collection)