Wow, what a city! We're taking a layover day in Portland, OR on our way to Holden Village, WA and I'm sitting out front of a Starbucks, venti in hand, in the hip northwest side of town and I've just realized there is a thriving Peet's Coffee and Tea – next door! As a trained Lutheran theologian, I know that Coffee is the third sacrament, right behind Baptism and Communion, and therefore I can see how extremely religious these people are in every way.

It's summertime and I've been thinking about growth.  Paul says “I plant and Apollo waters, but God does the growing.” He does indeed. We do what we can, and we do that to which we are called, but the growth is a blessing from God alone.

Welcome to Salem! We are a creative, faithful and fun bunch of people.