Washougal Writers

Ten reasons why everyone should know everything they can about the Bible. By Vern Schanilec 12/30/2017 A Bible search can have something to do with faith if you want it to, and which I address, but the initial thrust is about getting acquainted with an ancient manuscript that every year is still the largest book seller. How did it come together; why is it in the order it is; and, most importantly, was it inspired by God. We shall see. 1. You will learn the theocratic history of Judaism from Abraham to Jesus, who was after all, a practicing Jew. 2. You will learn if the Bible’s offerings are historically accurate. 3. You will observe data which will inform you if God inspired writers, or they were on their own; literal vs non-literal; innerancy vs errancy. 4. You will learn how the Hebrew Testament (HT, known as the Old Testament OT) sets up the Christian Testament (CT, known as the New Testament NT); and HT prophecies that allegedly point to the coming of Jesus. 5. You ...

Youngest Sibling There is (or was, a few years ago) a thing called “the youngest sibling effect” – or something like that. The idea is that the oldest is smart: he has to teach the second, and the second has to teach the third, on down to the last. * They all learn, because you have to put your thoughts in order to explain things. The last one has no one to teach, so doesn’t learn so well. The nuclear physicist Richard Feynman touched on then this when he said that if you couldn’t explain a concept to a fairly bright high school student, you didn’t understand it yourself. It’s an old concept. Heinlein uses it in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. The protagonist hires a teacher whose first question is, “Well, what are we going to learn this time?” I Have also had it happen to me. I was with this fairly bright administrator at work and commented that it was pretty neat that you could just look at heavy equipment axle assemblies and know how many planetary gears each one had—large ones...

The best and Worst Shot Ever I was out with my dog and gun behind the potato and onion processing plant near Boardman, Oregon. After morning fog, it was a bright, cold, windy day. We were walking downwind in a stubble field. The dog started making game about the same time the rooster jumped. He was coming straight towards me, and into the wind, making for an easy shot. As it flew, it crossed between me and the sun, and was totally illuminated. This is the only shot of my life that I wish was a photograph instead. Roast Pheasant la Orange If you have one of those plucking machines with the rotary rubber fingers, pluck the bird. Otherwise just skin it, cutting off the wing tips and feet as you go. Kitchen shears are handy here. Gut it and rinse it thoroughly. Then look it over for shot left in the meat, removing any feathers the shot have pulled in with them as you go. When you’ve done as much of this as you’re going to, rinse it some more, giving extra attention to bloodshot pl...

By Peggy Coquet June 3, 2017 Setting the table, I place each item carefully To make it pleasant for the people eating at my table. The more intent I put in the task, The more I focus on those who will share food, The more pleased I am with the result. Good conversation, honest friendship And a true sharing of the gift of life. Making the bed Whether I am making the bed in the morning Or making it up fresh with clean bed clothes I try to honor its importance As the place where we open to each other Share secrets, laugh and remember All the love that has grown In the garden of our bed.

Returning to Three Dour dawns, where do they come from? I wake up in danger and fear.  When did that start? The last few years, a decade maybe. I know as a young man, in my twenties, thirties, forties, and so on, I woke up as bright as the morning sun, ready to have fun, knowing I could walk into the day feeling the warm swathe of life about me, knowing good things were afoot. But that has changed. Perhaps after I left, the kitchen, the desk, the pulpit, after I turned the corner of my careers to a certain age and began to wander about– beginning to feel mortal, wondering how far this retirement thing is to go; what do I have left to give, get or be; that’s when it started. So I ask, what is here for me to make into a worthwhile day? I have the three writing groups, conversations with my son, wife, friends. And grandchildren, yes three granddaughters. Hey maybe that’s the secret about grandparents and grandchildren, there is pure innocence in the one and the search for lost ...