Thoughts

A collection of thoughts related to faith, finances, food, environment, and other sporadic thoughts.

Organized by topics

Index of topics, followed by entries. After each description, [yyyy-mm-dd] indicates the date posted, and {abc, xyz} are the topics I assigned. Every thought has one or more topics assigned. If you prefer to see these organized chronologically, view the chronological listing.

Book reviews [these are recommendations after reading them]
Brain food
Faith
Family
Gripes
Humor
Life
Memories
Movies
Observations
Politics

Book reviews

Note that these are recommendations after reading them.

The Four Winds: By Kristin Hannah, this historical fiction follows the life of a panhandle family struggling. In the throes of the great depression, severe drought and dust storms hit this family (and many across the U.S.) very hard. [2026-02-27] {life, book}
All the Light We Cannot See: This is a short review of a book entitled as above and authored by Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr. [2025-08-22] {book}
The Four Things That Matter Most: This is a short book review of a book Marcia received at starting home hospice care in Pella. [2025-08-16] {book}
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Interesting book and movie [2020-09-20] {book}

Brain food

Explain This: I present 8 photos, and I ask you to explain them. I give my answers. [2026-01-25] {brain food}
Pronounce These: This looks at a few words in Greek that may be hard to pronounce for English speakers, even if you know the sounds of the Greek letters. You don't need to know any Greek to benefit from this. [2026-01-25] {brain food}

Faith

To Him Who Believes: Here I recount an important quote that has guided me for the last 50 years. [2025-08-24] {faith}
I Can Only Imagine: This describes a movie by the same title as the hit song by Christian artist Bart Millard came up with in this movie. It is based on the life of Millard. [2026-02-27] {faith, movie}

Family

Chains of Babies: Some people focus on whether they are the oldest, youngest, or middle child in a family. This is just a short look at my parents and their parents and so on. [2025-08-22] {family}

Gripes

Bike Helmets are Only for Kids: Who should be wearing bike helmets? [2022-06-15] {gripe}

Humor

A Train Recently Went By: This is a short story of an experience from almost six decades ago. [2025-08-20] {humor}
Three Kinds of People: just check it out [2022-05-27] {humor}

Life

The Four Winds: By Kristin Hannah, this historical fiction follows the life of a panhandle family struggling. In the throes of the great depression, severe drought and dust storms hit this family (and many across the U.S.) very hard. [2026-02-27] {life, book}
A Cold Day: With windchills at -30, can one still take a walk? Yes, if one plans for it. [2026-01-24] {life}
'Twas a Few Days Before Election Day: A Facebook post [2021-01-06] {life; politics}
Live Now: Live now [2020-09-20] {life}

Memories

And I also get paid: This is a reflection on a comment that colleague and hiring chair, Don Meyer, said to me in my first year of teaching at Central College.[2025-08-12] {memory, attitude}

Movies

I Can Only Imagine: This describes a movie by the same title as the hit song by Christian artist Bart Millard came up with in this movie. It is based on the life of Millard. [2026-02-27] {faith, movie}

Observations

How Do I Walk?: Recently, someone identified me walking toward him in the dark. [2025-10-25] {observation}