300 words a day – Daily observations about following Jesus

A new chapter

As you know, Jon is beginning a new chapter of involvement in others’ lives by no longer serving as a hospital chaplain. He now has the freedom to be more flexible in other ways to encourage life and growth. This is Paul Merrill writing. (I write here every first Friday.) Jon and I have known […]

by Jon Swanson

Another day.

Ben turns four in 2026. That’s mostly four fingers for him. The picture is from earlier in 2025. He was three back then. That’s mostly three fingers for him. It’s new year’s eve as I write and he’s sitting in the other room. It’s mostly a night for him. It’s New Year’s Day as you […]

by Jon Swanson

What About The Shepherds?

From Rich Dixon +++ I always enjoy Jon’s way of drawing us into Bible stories. Have you ever wondered what the shepherds thought? Here they were, tending their sheep, minding their own business, and suddenly a bunch of angels show up. Had to be a bit disconcerting. These guys were the lowest of the low […]

by Jon Swanson

But one thing I do

This blog started January 1, 2009. Here’s what I wrote: Huge dream. Big plans. Complete outline. Clear structure. That’s what I was thinking when I started working on the idea for this website. But that’s not how it’s starting. Instead, we are starting where most people started following Jesus. With a small, simple, uncertain but […]

by Jon Swanson

Morning coffee.

I was sitting next to a bed. The patient was old enough to have kids my age. She’d had a rough night. She wanted to talk to the priest, but I would do for now. As we were visiting, a man walked into the room, one of her sons. He greeted me, looked at his […]