I have entitled this blog pastorgarymusings. “To muse” is to reflect, to meditate, to ponder; it is to react thoughtfully to one’s environment and to interact with others. That is what I hope this blog will become.

I have actually begun because my dear wife goaded me. (Is she my muse?) I had investigated starting a blog earlier, but given up. But she urged me on. “You have important things to say,” she said. (I’m not so sure). “You have been a pastor for all these years . . . you have all this experience . . . you have studied the Bible diligently . . . you have preached all of those sermons,” etc. etc.

I admit my doubt. Do I have a voice to add to others? There are so many others! Maybe I can help someone avoid mistakes I have made (which have been many). I do have ideas about the experience of Christians in our country, about church life, about biblical and theological themes.

And biblical themes cannot be neatly confined to church walls, under steeples, behind stained glass. When the Bible speaks, God is speaking–and his ancient wisdom has a way of getting outside the church and bumping into seminaries, city halls, state capitals, scientific hypotheses, law, money, power, nations.

So here goes. I’m starting a blog. My name is Gary Bonebrake, and I hope this helps someone out there.