Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran May 1, 2013 is by Mark Smith, former senior pastor of Mukilteo Presbyterian …

The start of the fall season is one of my favorite times of the year. I could do with a little less rain, but there is something about November, when the air is crisper, the days are cooler, and the …

On Oct. 31, much of our culture celebrated by dressing up in various costumes and did the very thing their parents had warned them about. They took candy from strangers well into the night. …

Approach the public square with a “firm center” and “soft edges.” Christian writer, religious freedom lawyer, and Iraq War veteran David French recently quoted this idea from Biola …

I am biased. I admit it. Every day there are things that I do, things that I say, and things that I think all come from a prejudice that has developed in me over the years. It’s a prejudice that …

I recently had a friend remind me of a great quote by A.J. Swoboda – "Jesus heard the audible voice of God twice in the New Testament. Neither time was he told what to do but rather who he was. …

Ha ha. I bet I caught a few of you with this headline. Today I want to dig into why this phrase catches people's attention. Be honest: Would you have read further if I had titled this piece, …

According to the Buddha, the primary cause of our suffering is ignorance. What does “ignorance” mean? Ignorance is a fundamental state of mind that reflects misunderstanding. When we become …

By my count, I’ve written about the Jewish High Holy Days at least 15 times for the Beacon Worship page, so some of the following may already be familiar to you. This year, Rosh Hashanah, the …

How often we think about faith and our spiritual beliefs can be a measure of how well life works for us. What does faith mean to you, and do you consider yourself to be a person with belief who is …

Finger pointing is rampant and dominating the conversation, massive problems are re-crisply defined and loudly complained about, news shows and documentaries routinely close with the thought …

When you think of kindness what comes to mind? Do you envision saying “please” and “thank you?” Or holding the door open for someone entering the store behind you? Maybe being there for …

I enjoy social media. It can be a gift. There is a way that it makes us more connected than ever. It also gives us quick access to some of the finest music, film, arts, and culture. We can also use …

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the youth of our church in the outdoors. While it was not the first time being outdoors with our youth, this particular experience left a …

Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea. Most famously, he was the one who presided over the trial of Jesus. During an exchange recorded in John 18, Pilate asked Jesus; …

Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran March 18, 2009, is by Jeff Dutra, former pastor of Family Life Center. No doubt …

Kids are in trouble. They feel more isolated, forgotten, and detached than ever before. The pandemic has made their lives difficult, but the crisis started long before that. In 2002, American …