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Minister’s Message: Witnessing light

When the nights are longest, when the darkness is deepest, into our midst steps Jesus

Peter and Pearl Bodnar (front, center) pose for a 1930 Christmas portrait with much of their family, probably in Manitoba, Canada. Pictured are: (back row, L-R) Alex, sister Anna (Bodnar) Bandura, brother Michael holding daughter Pearl next to his wife Jessie, and Marcus. In the front row are: Michael’s eldest daughter Olga, parents Parascevies “Pearl” and Peter Bodnar, and Michael’s middle daughter Marion. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)

Life

The Bodnar Brothers: Early to Arrive, Early to Depart — Part 1

“Over the hill came two people on an Allis-Chalmers tractor … ”

Will Morrow (courtesy)

Life

Raise a glass!

At some point in my adult life, I developed a preference for sipping my adult beverages out of…

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Life

Minister’s Message: Walk in the light this Christmas

The Bible says the Lord God will be the light and those walking in that light will forever…

Nick Varney

Life

Unhinged Alaskas: You are never that far from home

It is a time to express the depth of our affection for each other and to strengthen the…

Charles Arthur Riddiford, for whom the first post office in Cooper Landing was named, served with the U.S. Postal Service for more than three decades, mostly as a postal inspector. He achieved nationwide notoriety in the early 1920s. (USPS historical archive photo)

Life

Riddiford: Story of a Name Change — Part 2

Generally speaking, Charles Riddiford did not seem to be an imposing figure

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Life

Minister’s Message: Embracing the awaiting awe

It is a common practice for me to share words of encouragement with those who find themselves in…

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: A few more pills

All the people I visit with these days have the same story

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Life

Minister’s Message: The hope of Christmas

History tells us that Jesus factually lived and later died on the cross. Therefore, the Christmas story is…

This is the military plaque placed upon the Anchorage grave of Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball. (Photo from findagrave.com)

Life

Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 4

Summing any life is never easy. There is always, it seems, more to the story.

Will Morrow (courtesy)

Life

Older and wiser, or not

Turning 50 has been a more laid-back experience

Charles Riddiford, far right in the back row, posed for this Spokane Post Office staff photo in 1898 when he was just a clerk. The photo appeared in a 1922 edition of the Spokesman Review, along with a discussion of the post office’s tremendous growth.

Life

Riddiford: Story of a Name Change — Part 1

So who was this Riddiford, and why did this name hold such sway at the site of Joseph…

Paper chains made of gratitude strips adorn a Christmas tree at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harber)

Life

Minister’s Message: Grateful and kind

What if, instead of gathering around tables and talking about what has already happened TO us, we challenge…

Nick Varney

Life

Unhinged Alaska: Some things never change. Nor should they

In the dawdling days prior to Thanksgiving, things are usually as serene as a gentle snowfall within our…

This photo from the early 1960s shows Jackson Ball enjoying the Christmas holidays with his eldest three daughters. His fourth and youngest daughter was born less than a year and a half before Ball’s death in 1968. (Photo from Ball Family memorial slideshow, 2022)

Life

Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 3

Misfortune was written across the recent history of the Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball family

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Life

Minister’s Message: God’s selfie

I can think of no one word that encapsulates our age, that defines our collective priorities and focus…

This is an early photo of U.S. Army soldier Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball in uniform. The patches, ribbons and medals on this uniform demonstrate that he had not yet served overseas or been involved in any combat. (Photo from Ball Family memorial slideshow, 2022)

Life

Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 2

Perhaps going to Alaska was the fresh start he needed at this time in his life

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Noise

The first 10 years we were in Alaska we lived remotely

After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945, Arlon Elwood “Jackson” Ball posed for this photograph, demonstrating his five years of military service through his many ribbons, badges and patches. (Photo courtesy of the Ball Family Collection)

Life

Human Complexity: The Story of Jackson Ball — Part 1

A premise to explore

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Life

Minister’s Message: Hope as an anchor

The Bible uses the word hope 133 times