Life

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Minister’s Message: Ending Well

I have a deep sense of sorrow, when I see someone not ending life well because they ignored living a life of faith or by failing in integrity or in faithfulness

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Virgil Dahler photo courtesy of the KPC historical photo archive This aerial view from about 1950 shows Jack Keeler’s home on his homestead east of Soldotna. The stream to the left is Soldotna Creek, and the bridge across the stream probably allowed early access to the Mackey Lakes area. The road to the right edge of the photo leads to the Sterling Highway.

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 6

“Most of those homesteaders won’t last”

Virgil Dahler photo courtesy of the KPC historical photo archive This aerial view from about 1950 shows Jack Keeler’s home on his homestead east of Soldotna. The stream to the left is Soldotna Creek, and the bridge across the stream probably allowed early access to the Mackey Lakes area. The road to the right edge of the photo leads to the Sterling Highway.
Photo courtesy of Al Hershberger Don and Verona pose inside their first Soldotna grocery store in 1952, the year they opened for business.

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 5

By 1952, the Wilsons constructed a simple, rectangular, wood-frame building and started the town’s first grocery

Photo courtesy of Al Hershberger Don and Verona pose inside their first Soldotna grocery store in 1952, the year they opened for business.
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Minister’s Message: Finding freedom to restrain ourselves

We are free to speak at a higher level of intelligence

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Members of the Keeler family and some Anchor Point church members get a ride on Jimmy Elliot’s “mud sled” on the way to services at the Elliot home, circa 1956. Lorna Keeler is sitting on the far-left side of the sled. April Keeler is the middle girl of the trio sitting in back, and Larry Keeler is standing behind those girls. (Photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum)

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 4

Lawrence and Lorna Keeler and their family moved from Oregon to Alaska in June 1948 and began building a new life for themselves

Members of the Keeler family and some Anchor Point church members get a ride on Jimmy Elliot’s “mud sled” on the way to services at the Elliot home, circa 1956. Lorna Keeler is sitting on the far-left side of the sled. April Keeler is the middle girl of the trio sitting in back, and Larry Keeler is standing behind those girls. (Photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Hey Boreas. Knock it off. You’re flash freezing my karma

For the last few weeks, we have been hosting Boreas, the Greek god of winter

Nick Varney
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Minister’s Message: Redrawing the boundary lines

Dark forces have made their way into the world ever since the time of Adam and Eve and now Jesus shows up to redraw the boundary lines

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Brothers James (left) and Lawrence Keeler with their Kissel car, circa 1910s. Both brothers enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War I. James was killed in battle. Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 3

Lorna Keeler had a well-deserved reputation for being the bachelor’s friend in time of need

Brothers James (left) and Lawrence Keeler with their Kissel car, circa 1910s. Both brothers enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War I. James was killed in battle. Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Finally! It’s February

True to form, January was only double the length of the other months

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
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Minister’s Message: Feel the warmth of the sun and Christ in your heart

It is good to have more daylight and feel the warmth of the sun now

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Louvie “Vi” Chapman photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum This cottonwood-log structure was Anchor Point’s first-ever school, located on the south side of the Anchor River. It was replaced with a better school on the north side, on property donated by Sherman and Louvie Chapman. Seen here are the first teacher, Helen Smith, and some of her students, including Larry Keeler standing next to Smith.

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 2

On Aug. 3, 1948, Lawrence and Lorna made their official move from Kenai to Anchor Point aboard a vessel called the John Adams

Louvie “Vi” Chapman photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum This cottonwood-log structure was Anchor Point’s first-ever school, located on the south side of the Anchor River. It was replaced with a better school on the north side, on property donated by Sherman and Louvie Chapman. Seen here are the first teacher, Helen Smith, and some of her students, including Larry Keeler standing next to Smith.
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Minister’s Message: You talking to me?

After a long human discourse on “where is God?” God ardently responds in chapters 38-41 to the dialogue between Job and his friends.

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Some of the Keelers assembled with family matriarch Samantha (second from left) in this 1952 photograph taken in Oregon. Others, L-R: George, Lawrence with wife Lorna, daughter April and son Larry, and Floyd, also known as “Uncle Shorty.” Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 1

This is the story of the Keelers who came to the Kenai

Some of the Keelers assembled with family matriarch Samantha (second from left) in this 1952 photograph taken in Oregon. Others, L-R: George, Lawrence with wife Lorna, daughter April and son Larry, and Floyd, also known as “Uncle Shorty.” Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.
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Minister’s Message: Getting involved with your church

We need to intervene with the hope of Christ to turn around the downhill slide

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Rex Edwards experimented with many activities, including fencing, for the students at the school in Seldovia. In the 1973-74 school year, he even attempted to coach football, even though the only “field” available was the beach. Here are the “Seldovia Retreaters” as they appeared in the school’s 1974 yearbook.

First in the Pool — Part 2

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part story about former teachers Rex and Beverly Edwards and the advent of a swimming pool… Continue reading

Rex Edwards experimented with many activities, including fencing, for the students at the school in Seldovia. In the 1973-74 school year, he even attempted to coach football, even though the only “field” available was the beach. Here are the “Seldovia Retreaters” as they appeared in the school’s 1974 yearbook.
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Sorry about that column

Each year our massive staff normally sets aside a few columns to reply to inquiries and comments about Unhinged Alaska subject matters. Sadly, they were… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Pastor Meredith Harber

Minister’s message: Shining inner glow of love and life in depths of winter

“It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you’d always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging… Continue reading

Pastor Meredith Harber
The village of Seldovia had to push hard to make sure that a pool was included when plans for the Susan B. English School were being finalized. Here, participants in the summer swim program pose in 1998. (Image courtesy of Rex and Beverly Edwards)

First in the Pool — Part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: A slightly modified version of this two-part story about former teachers Rex and Beverly Edwards and the advent of a swimming pool in… Continue reading

The village of Seldovia had to push hard to make sure that a pool was included when plans for the Susan B. English School were being finalized. Here, participants in the summer swim program pose in 1998. (Image courtesy of Rex and Beverly Edwards)
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Minister’s Message: Witnessing light

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

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In about 1948, after he and brother Alex had proven up on his homestead and were in the process of proving up on Alex’s, Marcus Bodnar poses here with his cabin along the Kenai River near the site of the bridge, which was just being built at this time. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)

The Bodnar Brothers: Early to Arrive, Early to Depart — Part 2

Although their time on the peninsula was brief, they made an impact

In about 1948, after he and brother Alex had proven up on his homestead and were in the process of proving up on Alex’s, Marcus Bodnar poses here with his cabin along the Kenai River near the site of the bridge, which was just being built at this time. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)