Articles By: Richard Dahlstrom

Pastor: Bethany Community Church, Seattle - in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty - in all things charity. Teacher: Torchbearers Missionary Fellowship, conferences, and plans to do more in Africa and East Europe Author: o2: Breathing New Life into Faith, and a new book in 2011! Fun: Skiing, Backpacking, Movies, Family, Climbing, Art, Wine, and so much more

The Christian Conference Industry: Formula for Inferiority?

The biggest shock to my system upon returning from Africa was my desk and inboxes, both literal and electronic. They were stuffed with invitations to conferences. The invitations were slick: DVD’s with amazing videography and music, pictures of cool speakers whose shirts are always untucked...

March 9th, 2011 | Essays, Featured | Read More

“If your right hand causes you to stumble…” 127 Hours of Redemption

I was in Colorado, and watched with a friend there when Aron Ralston appeared on David Letterman in 2003, after cutting off his right arm, which had become pinned, as the saying goes, “between a rock and hard place.” He’d broken the bone, severed his own arm, rappelled down a 65′...

February 5th, 2011 | Featured, Film | Read More

Killing the Candy Tax: Metaphor for our American Political Problems

My great state of Washington had an initiative 1107 on the ballot a few weeks ago, which passed resoundingly and as a result, banished sales tax from the important necessities of life: soda, candy, and bottled water. Thus is surely good news for all those living on the edge, who’ll now be able...

November 19th, 2010 | Featured, Social Justice | Read More

Obama Faith: The Political Problem of Two Kingdoms

I will never, if I live to be a hundred, understand the wedding of a particular political party (left or right) with Christianity. The “religious right” days of the eighties, or the neo-religious right resurgence of the tea party, are both examples of politicians portraying themselves as...

October 1st, 2010 | Essays, Featured | Read More

The Healer Speaks through the Stars

If there’s a time for everything, then there’s a time for grenades of darkness to pummel our souls, battering the illusions we’ve built and exposing the raw pain of evil in this world. Some weeks, some days, pastors are right in the thick of the battle, absorbing the explosion. This...

September 12th, 2010 | Featured, Meditations | Read More

Wooden Gold

The death of John Wooden over the weekend has me remembering the life and legacy of a man who left his mark on me when I was addicted to basketball in Jr. High. But this isn’t a post about basketball as much as what making God’s good reign visible looks like: Dear John - I’m not sure...

June 18th, 2010 | Sports | Read More

“Perhaps” – the power of risk, and the paralysis of fear

If you’re climbing a rock face, the thing that spares you from death in the event of a fall is your protection (which is some sort of anchor you put in the rock that will put an end to your fall). Of course, the higher you climb beyond your last piece of protection, the farther you’ll fall...

May 30th, 2010 | Featured, Meditations | Read More

A Letter to Mom for Mother’s Day

Happy Mothers Day Mom… I know you won’t read this, because I tried to teach you how to use a computer about five years ago, and it was simply too much for you. You’re still amazed at the digital picture frame I gave you when you moved into your new room at the retirement center. Maybe...

May 9th, 2010 | Featured, Meditations | Read More

Farming Faith: Jesus’ lavish use of seeds

You’ve no doubt heard about the parable of the seed and the sower? It’s one of those stories I’ve seen illustrated with little shreds of flannel when I was in 2nd grade, heard it taught at camp by a guy who illustrated it in what was called a “chalk talk” and studied it...

April 4th, 2010 | Featured, Meditations | Read More

WWJE? Food choices are theological

If you’re one of those “it’s all going to burn up anyway” Christians, in love with your dispensationalism, there’s a good chance you’ll be eating a big slab of meat tonight, cooked over a fire (maybe burn a few California Redwoods?), complemented by a pesticide laced...

March 9th, 2010 | Culture, Featured, Food and Drink, Social Justice | Read More