Podcasts about whatcom county

The "iChange Justice" podcast is joined by a very special guest and longtime supporter of its mission, Mel Hoover. As an advisor, Hoover provides his unique perspective, helping to navigate the significant transitions and complex issues facing Whatcom County.The conversation with Mel begins with a personal journey, as he shares how he and his wife, both ministers and change agents, came to settle in the Pacific Northwest to be closer to their family. Mel, originally from the East Coast, reflects on his first visit to the area in the 1980s and the striking contrast between its sleepy, small-town facade and the deep, complex realities that were not immediately visible. He brings to light the area's history as a "sundown town," a fact that was unknown to even many longtime residents, including the host. This powerful revelation sets the stage for a discussion on how historical realities, often hidden, continue to shape the present.Mel's own life story is a mosaic of different cultures, religions, and races. He shares his incredible journey of being born in a segregated Columbus, Ohio, in 1944, into a family with Cherokee, Seminole, French, and Irish heritage. This early experience in a multicultural family, living in an "apartheid nation," gave him a unique perspective on the true nature of America—a perspective he was forced to reconcile with the idealized stories he was told. He recounts how his family, though highly educated, still faced discrimination, and how he learned to see the world not as a single narrative, but as a complex and multiplex reality.As the year moves into 2025, the conversation shifts to the urgent issues at the forefront of Whatcom County, from water adjudication and border complexities to global challenges and the "whiteout of truth" caused by misinformation. Mel explains that to tackle these issues, one must first build authentic relationships and find common ground. He argues that the culture has diminished the value of truth, and that it is necessary to return to smaller, trusted circles to find a way back to honest conversation and shared purpose. Mel's wisdom reminds listeners that even with all the complexities faced, the possibility of what could be is worth fighting for.Joy Gilfilen concludes the conversation by highlighting the very real and present threats people face, including the increase in natural disasters like tornadoes, firestorms, and floods, and how these events impact the food supply. However, she pivots from the negative to a message of hope and action. The episode is a call to come together and find solutions. Gilfilen emphasizes the importance of saving the waters, reminding everyone that because all are made of water, they are also saving themselves. This final thought serves as a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and shared responsibility to protect the planet and each other.

Thank You, Whatcom County Voters! On Tuesday, August 5, Whatcom County voters approved a levy lid lift for the Whatcom County Library System. This allows us to continue to provide great service and offerings to county residents. In this special episode we talk with WCLS Trustee Matthew Santos, Executive Director Christine Perkins, Deputy Director Michael Cox, Facilities Manager Ryan Cullup, Collection Services Manager Lisa Gresham, ILS Administrator Carmi Parker and Youth Services Manager Thom Barthelmess — along with a whole lot of grateful staff members — about what this means to the library system and the communities we serve.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Hosts Lyle Sorenson and Rick Todd talk about the Whatcom County real estate market.

KGMI's Jason Upton speaks with Jennifer Bettis from Western Washington University's Border Policy Research Institute to discuss the findings of a survey taken by a number of local businesses in Whatcom County to gauge the impact of recent tariffs and the drop in Canadians coming into Washington.

KGMI's Jason Upton speaks with former WWU professor and local historian Paul Englesberg about the Bellingham Riot of 1907, which is being remembered by Whatcom County's Sikh Community and other groups on Thursday, Sept. 4.

In this episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie sits down with Brittany Palm, Director of the Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences Program at Bellingham Technical College (BTC). From her early days fishing on Long Island to leading one of the most unique fisheries and aquaculture programs on the West Coast, Brittany shares her journey, her passion for salmon, and the hands-on training BTC provides for the next generation of fishery scientists, hatchery managers, and aquaculture experts.This episode is packed with stories, science, and strategies on how we can all play a role in sustaining healthy fish populations while supporting local communities.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Hosts Lyle Sorenson and Rick Todd talk about the Whatcom County real estate market.

In a special milestone episode, Joy Gilfilen hosts a powerful conversation on restorative justice with Irene Morgan, founder of the Restorative Community Coalition. This episode, delves into how the justice system has shifted from a successful, community-based approach to a punitive, punishment-focused model. Morgan, who has decades of experience in this field, shares her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.The discussion begins with Irene's early experience in the 1990s on a Community Accountability Board (CAB) in Whatcom County. This diversion program for first and second-time teen offenders had a remarkable 98% success rate, allowing young people to avoid a juvenile record by making restitution and completing community service. Despite its success, the program was quietly dismantled, and local officials later claimed that restorative justice wasn't possible, particularly for felony cases.Irene's personal story illustrates the human cost of the current system. She recounts the tragic death of her grandson in a car accident and the two years of emotional trauma and uncertainty her family endured. The justice system, in this case, provided no information about the driver responsible. When they finally met him, they discovered he was a grieving man filled with remorse and contemplating suicide. By engaging with him directly, the family was able to find healing, illustrating that forgiveness and understanding can be more powerful than a prison sentence.The podcast emphasizes that a punishment-focused system feeds a "mass industrial complex" and a social caste system, disproportionately affecting the poor. Morgan and Gilfilen argue that the first 72 hours after an arrest are crucial for providing help, not punishment, and that a lack of continuous services from the justice system makes it nearly impossible for people to get back on their feet.The episode concludes with a vision for a better way forward. Morgan proposes the creation of a "Restore a Life Center"—a place that would provide housing, employment, education, and trauma healing to those who have been through the system. This model focuses on repairing harm and helping people become productive members of society, a stark contrast to the current system's emphasis on incarceration.

Beyond Punishment: Restorative Justice and the Path to Community HealingReady for a deep dive into justice? It's our 199th episode, and Whatcom County's own Joy Gilfilen is joined by Irene Morgan, the founder of the Restorative Community Coalition. Together, they're taking a hard look at the justice system as we know it, and they're not holding back.Irene shares her incredible journey, starting with her childhood and her early observations of how the "welfare system" impacted people. She later saw those same patterns repeat in the court and justice system, leading her to a stark conclusion: the system isn't broken. It's working exactly as it was designed to—to generate massive amounts of money and capture people within its grasp.This powerful conversation unpacks the hidden truths of probable cause, the tragedy of high bail that forces people to plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit, and the devastating cycle of debt and trauma that families endure. Irene reveals that this system (traded on the New York Stock Exchange) doesn't prioritize victims but instead enriches itself. Joy and Irene discuss the true cost of incarceration, from soaring legal fees and fines to the loss of jobs, housing, and even family connections.But this episode isn't just about identifying problems; it's about pioneering solutions. Irene explains the profound healing power of restorative justice, a process that brings together victims and perpetrators to find a path to restitution, healing, and even forgiveness. They also talk about a range of other solutions, including the coalition's work in court navigation, case management, and the vision for the Restore Life Center, a project that could help people before they ever enter the jail system.The conversation touches on the inspiring progress of the tiny home community in Whatcom County, a grassroots effort that is helping people escape homelessness and rebuild their lives. As Irene says, we don't have to keep doing things the same way. We can choose a healthier, more humane path that focuses on healing rather than punishment. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who wants to understand the real justice system and what we can do to change it for the better.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Hosts Lyle Sorenson and Rick Todd talk about the Whatcom County real estate market.

Host Guy Ochiogrosso talks about transportation and infrastructure in Whatcom County.

In a compelling conversation, Joy Gilfilen welcomes Atul Deshmane, a dedicated public servant and Whatcom County resident, to the iChange Justice podcast. Deshmane, with his extensive background in clean energy and technology, offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. He begins by drawing a crucial distinction between a politician and a public servant, arguing that the latter's true purpose is to serve the public interest, not personal gain.The discussion pivots to the concept of "intention over innovation," with Deshmane explaining that while he once believed technology alone could make the world better, he now understands that it is human intention that gives innovation purpose. This mindset is vital for addressing complex issues, from the use of artificial intelligence to how we manage our natural resources.The episode hones in on three key issues for Whatcom County in 2025: water, energy, and digital civics. Deshmane highlights the existential threat to the Nooksack River, sharing a study that shows a high probability of it running dry within 50 years. He advocates for a proactive, collaborative approach to water management that includes regenerative agriculture, increased soil carbon, and innovative storage solutions like dams built for river protection, not just energy production. The conversation also explores the need for new energy sources like geothermal power and the importance of digital civics to empower citizens.This episode is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to move beyond negative distractions and focus on collaborative, intention-driven solutions to build a more resilient and just future.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Hosts Lyle Sorenson and Rick Todd talk about the Whatcom County real estate market.

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel digs into the archives for his 2017 conversation with Western Washington University Professor Emeritus (and geologist and author) Don Easterbrook. Easterbrook and his late colleague David Rahm studied Mount Baker - just minutes away via air from Bellingham - during the Whatcom County peak's period of increased volcanic activity in 1975 - five years before Mount St. Helens blew its top. Easterbrook authored a book in 2016 called "Mount Baker Eruptions and Glaciations." He and Rahm are also co-authors of the essential 1970 text, "Landforms of Washington." For aerial images of Mount Baker shot by Easterbrook in 1975 while Rahm was flying their small plane, visit the Cascade of History Facebook page: www.facebook.com/share/p/1G4GXreyVA/ Professor Easterbrook's page at WWU: https://geology.wwu.edu/people/dbunny CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

Eric Flores: A New Era of Justice - Restorative CommUnity Coalition. A New Era of Justice: Eric Flores on Re-entry, Restoration, and Whatcom County's FutureIn a new episode of the iChange Justice podcast, host Joy Gilfilen introduces Eric Flores, the new president of the Restorative Community Coalition. Eric brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional insight to his new role.As a Care Coordinator with the Freedom Project, Eric works as a peer mentor, guiding individuals currently or formerly incarcerated back into the community. His own experience with incarceration gives him profound empathy for the challenges of re-entry, and he helps clients develop detailed support plans to overcome barriers and achieve their goals. He notes that the attention to detail from his previous job as an inspector surprisingly transfers to his current role, allowing him to hold people accountable with genuine interest.The Freedom Project provides crucial support for re-entry, including rental assistance, food, and clothing. Eric emphasizes that having a private space is the "cornerstone" of stability. However, he highlights a key challenge in Whatcom County: a lack of funding and a "gatekeeping" mentality among some non-profits that hinder collaboration. He believes greater cooperation is essential to serve the community effectively.Eric also discusses the "Rip Van Winkle" effect of returning to a world transformed by technology and the struggle to adapt to digital life. The Freedom Project's digital literacy program helps bridge this gap. Through personal transformation and the encouragement of mentors, Eric has flipped a "criminal mindset" into a positive one, rebuilding his life and career to empower others.Looking forward, Eric expresses hope for a future defined by empathy and understanding. He stresses the importance of community ties and working together to build a better era of public safety.For more information, visit RestorativeCommunity.org and FreedomProjectW.org.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

KGMI's Jason Upton speaks with Greg Ebe, a potato farmer and civil engineer in north Whatcom County and the subject of the newly-released documentary "Every Last Drop." The film dives into Greg and his team's effort to use a new irrigation system to conserve water amid the county's worsening drought conditions.

Host Josh Burdick welcomes board members from Whatcom Women in Business to the show to talk about their organization and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

KGMI's Dianna Hawryluk talks to Ethan Hunger about his work to raise money for local food banks with an all-day Iron Man style workout across Whatcom County.

In March 2000, 23-year-old Leah Roberts packed her Jeep Cherokee, grabbed her cat—and vanished.  Not without a trace, but into the vast, mist-covered wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by Jack Kerouac, Leah set off from North Carolina on a soul-searching road trip, leaving behind a trail of personal tragedy: the sudden death of both parents and a near-fatal car crash. She carried $3,000 in cash and no clear destination—just a sense that something was waiting for her out west. Days later, her Jeep was found wrecked at the bottom of a remote embankment near Bellingham, Washington.  Inside: her clothes, blankets, an engagement ring tucked under the floor mat.  Outside: no Leah. No blood. No footprints. No sign of struggle. But then came the troubling clues—tampered wires, male DNA, an unidentifiable fingerprint.  Accident? Escape? Or something darker hidden in the shadows of the Cascades? Listen as we dive into Washington, the case of Leah Roberts, and how to stay alive on vacation. Do you have a story to share? Send your email to lasttrippodcast@gmail.com We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/ And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/zxz8qu/the_disappearance_of_leah_roberts/ https://www.facebook.com/BringLeahHome/ https://www.whatcomcounty.us/292/Missing-Leah-Roberts https://charleyproject.org/case/leah-toby-roberts https://unsolved.com/gallery/leah-roberts/ https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/140251/ https://people.com/archive/the-searcher-vol-64-no-5/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150219174012/http://foothillsgazette.com/2010/03/25/10-years-later-missing-person-case-remains-open/ https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/the-bizarre-disappearance-of-leah-roberts https://ncmissingpersons.org/leah-roberts/ https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-leah-roberts-disappearance/jenn-dzikowski https://youtu.be/SC-DKrtIK-I?si=8TlQLKLDcii_R8RI https://alchetron.com/Disappearance-of-Leah-Roberts https://www.legallyobscene.com/mysterious-disappearance-of-leah-roberts/

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Misty Flowers talks about public safety in Whatcom County on this episode of Saturday Morning Live.

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:17-23 by William Klock Sometimes you have to stand back and look at the big picture when you want to find your way.  Think of going to a strange town and getting lost going from street to street and intersection to intersection.  When I first started working in Bellingham I kept getting lost when I was out making service calls.  I have a good sense of direction.  I don't usually need a map—which is what had back then before Siri.  But what's now Bellingham was originally five separate towns, each with its own street grid that didn't match up.  Then, to make matters worse, when they ran Interstate 5 through the city, they cut it in half and left only a handful of thorougfares connecting everything.  Our service manager handed me a nifty spiral-bound “Guide of Whatcom County” and said: “New guy takes the map.”  A map lets you get above everything.  It gives you a bird's eye view,  so that you can see the lay of the land.  The big picture helps you get your bearings. We need something like that for the Bible.  As kids we read books full of disconnected “Bible stories”.  We know Adam and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, but we struggle to know how their stories are related and part of the bigger story.  As adults the most common approach to reading the Bible—when we read it!—is the cover-to-cover, Genesis-to-Revelation approach.  Don't misunderstand; any type of Bible reading is good Bible reading, but the order the books of the Bible are arranged in isn't chronological and doesn't do much to help us see the “big picture”.  Even Bible scholars and theologians aren't immune from missing the big picture.  They're often so focused on the individual trees that it becomes easy to inadvertently forget the shape of the forest. I say this because our Epistle from Romans 8 this morning is one those wonderful, short passages that bring us back to the big picture of the Good News, of God's redemption and renewal of humanity and of his entire Creation.  But even here we might miss it.  Many Christians reading through Romans miss the big picture here because they are not expecting Paul's language of God subjecting his Creation to futility and bondage and of that Creation waiting in with eager longing.  And yet our Epistle this morning is St. Paul leading us right to the climax of his letter to the Romans.  Paul walks us up a mountain so we can see the lay of the land, where we've come from, where we're going, and how it all fits together. We don't have time this morning to get into the details of Paul's line of reasoning in the first half of Romans, but what he does in those chapters is to work his way through the story of Israel and all her ups and downs—and for Israel things were mostly “down”.  And now in Chapter 8 he begins talking about the life in the flesh versus life in the Spirit and the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit.  This is where, in verse 11, he famously writes that if the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies—if we are in Jesus the Messiah we live in hope of the same resurrection he has experienced.  But even more than that, Paul goes on to write, through our union with Jesus we are children and heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ—that means sharing in Jesus' inheritance.  But what is that?  Paul writes in verse 17 that it means to suffer with him so that we can be glorified with him.  The Christian life—life with Jesus—for Paul means two things: suffering and glory.  Suffering is a given as we long for glory. And so we should what Paul mean by “glory”?  And what about suffering?  Most Christians living through the last two thousand years have understood that suffering is part of our calling as we follow Jesus.  Jesus promised it.  The New Testament writers talk about it often—and most of them faced it themselves and were martyred for proclaiming the lordship of Jesus.  Many of our brothers and sisters today are persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world.  And yet in the West—probably in part because we haven't faced persecution for such a long time—many Christians have no place for suffering in their theology.  Many even go so far as to say that if you're experiencing suffering—sickness, poverty, rejection or anything else negative—it's due to a lack of faith.  But that's just the opposite of what Jesus taught and it's just the opposite of what Paul teaches here.  The inheritance we share with Jesus is one of suffering that leads to glory.  What this means is at the centre of our Epistle and Paul goes on in verse 18: This is how I work it out.  The sufferings we go through in the present time are not worth putting in the scale alongside the glory that is going to be unveiled for us.   This is how I work it out.  Knowing the Scriptures, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion Paul can reach.  He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but he's also worked out that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be unveiled in us. Think about what a powerful statement that was when Paul wrote this.  When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into that whatever our own trials and tribulations are.  That's fine.  But what did Paul have in mind?  Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus.  Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword.  And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.”  These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering any of us are likely to face.  And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be unveiled in us—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about?  Paul says this glory will be revealed in us.  It's a sense of this glory being bestowed on us as a gift—and this makes perfect sense when we remember what Paul said before: that if we are in Christ, then we will share in and we will participate in his inheritance. And then what's the inheritance?  Well, consider: Who is Jesus?  He is Lord.  His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think.  We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being.  When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”.  Brothers and Sisters, “glory” isn't going to heaven when you die.  As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus.  And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: Yes, creation itself is waiting with eager longing for the moment when God's sons [and daughters] will be revealed.   If our hope, if our glory—as it is so often wrongly portrayed—was for the destruction of this world and an eternity of disembodied existence in heaven with God, then the Creation would have no reason to eagerly long for that glory to be revealed.  What Paul describes here is the opposite: God's Creation is waiting for the great day when its true rulers are revealed, the sons and daughters of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption.  Look at verses 20-22: Creation, you see, was subjected to pointless futility, not of its own volition, but because of the once who placed it in this subjection, in the hope that creation itself would be freed from its slavery to decay, to enjoy the freedom that comes when God's children are glorified.  Let me explain.  We know that the entire creation is groaning together, and going through labour pains together, up until the present time.   This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture.  Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that.  It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end.  We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good.  We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”.  But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened.  War is always ranging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere.  Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive—maybe not in our part of the world, but for billions of others.  And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good.  Hate is easy; love is hard.  Paul knew it.  The Roman Christians knew it.  We know it. So Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story.  We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning obviously, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt.  And right there we get a glimmer of hope.  Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—we read about that in the story of Jacob and Joseph—it was all according to the Lord's plan.  The Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people.  Egypt started out good for Israel.  When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it wasn't because the Lord had ceased to be good and it wasn't because the Lord was no longer in control.  No.  We learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots.  In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life.  That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here.  As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay.  We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless.  Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else.  We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it.  We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up.  Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion would lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real.  This is God's promise.  No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights.  Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be.  Genesis shows things going from bad to worse.  It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry.  But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him.  The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started.  In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers.  The Lord built a temple for himself.  When the pagans built their temples, they placed images of their gods in them made of wood or stone, but in his own temple God placed human beings to represent his sovereignty and to rule his creation with wisdom and justice—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in the Lord's name.  That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple.  But then we chose to rebel.  As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator.  We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense that Creation is longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed.  That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it.  That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus.  Again, think back to Israel.  God chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he sent her to the nations to bring healing and restoration.  But she rebelled and she rejected her mission.  And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel.  He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus.  And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23.  It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: And not only the creation, but we too, we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit's life within us, are groaning within ourselves as we eagerly await our adoption as sons [and daugthers], the redemption of our bodies. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel.  Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right.  On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple.  This is what it means for our glory to be revealed.  The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning.  And so we groan and we wait eagerly too.  We live in the mess we've made here in the world.  We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete. And we can hope because our God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation.  He's given a down payment on what he has promised.  The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated.  Jesus is Lord.  He truly is God's King.  He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms.  The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God.  They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest.  And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us.  The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come.  We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises.  The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.  Brothers and Sisters, when that seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. But our faith is not a complacent faith.  We haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety while we wait for Jesus to return.  Not at all.  Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now.  How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled?  How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth?  Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission.  We're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now.  Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith.  But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like.  So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation.  Jesus has led the way for us here as the second Adam.  In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we.  In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness.  In a world full of war and injustice, we should visible and at the forefront working for peace and justice.  In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known.  In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about that mission.  When I think of these things I think of things that we as Christians can do to bring Jesus and his glory to the world in “big” ways.  I think of Christians—and there are so often so few of us—working on the big international scene or I think of missionaries going to far off countries.  And then I get discouraged.  That's far away.  It's bigger than me.  But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the Good News, and building the kingdom right where they were.  We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love known.  In everything we do, we should be seeking to give the world signs and foretastes of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance.  Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed in us.  Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake, that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known.  And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation.  Amen.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Mary Kay Robinson welcomes William McCarter, onsite manager at Recycling and Disposal Services, to the show to discuss recycling in Whatcom County.

Tucked between the rugged North Cascades and the sparkling Salish Sea, Bellingham, Washington is a must-visit Pacific Northwest destination that offers a stunning mix of mountains, forests, and coastal beauty. Just 90 miles north of Seattle and 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Bellingham is ideally located in Whatcom County with easy access to the San Juan Islands, Mount Baker, and the scenic Chuckanut Mountains. Outdoor enthusiasts will find a paradise of glacial lakes, temperate rainforests, dramatic coastal bluffs, and endless hiking and biking trails. Overlooking Bellingham Bay with views of the San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains, the city blends natural splendor with deep cultural roots. Originally home to the Coast Salish peoples, including the Lummi and Nooksack tribes, Bellingham's history spans coal mining, timber, and maritime trade. The city was officially formed in 1903 when the towns of Whatcom, Sehome, Bellingham, and Fairhaven merged. Today, historic Fairhaven, with its red-brick architecture, lively waterfront, and artsy vibe, anchors a city that's grown into a vibrant college town and cultural hub. In this podcast episode, we explore why Bellingham is the perfect RV road trip stop, packed with natural beauty, rich history, and unforgettable experiences.Send us a textPlease follow the show so you never miss an episode. We ask that you also kindly give the show a rating and a review as well. Learn more about RV Out West over on our website at www.rvoutwest.com Join in on the conversation via social media:InstagramFacebook

Host Karen Occhiogrosso speaks with David Lukens about all the products they make at Grace Harbor Farms in Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Friday afternoon a semi-truck crashed in Whatcom County and spilled over 14 million bees! Beekeeper Russell showed up on the scene to help and told us about it this morning!

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

KGMI's Jason Upton speaks to Kristi Birkland and Patty Boyce of United Way of Whatcom County about the newly updated ALICE Report, which measures economic hardship at the local level.

KGMI's Dianna Hawryluk talks to Lydia Place executive director Ashley Thomasson about the work they do to help people experiencing homelessness in Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

KGMI's Emma Toscani talks to Leslie Lekos from Wildroot Botanicals about her work to teach Whatcom County residents about the natural world around them.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

KGMI's Dianna Hawryluk talks to Cesar and Jerilyn Luna about their work providing haircuts to inmates in Whatcom County.

Host Dillon Honcoop talks about farming and agriculture in Washington state and Whatcom County.

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Ted Van Dyk, who had a long career in politics and journalism, including working for Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and who grew up in Whatcom County. He also had breakfast one day back in the 1950s with Edward R. Murrow. CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

Small boat operators in Puget Sound are working to upgrade their engines to reduce emissions. But uncertainty around federal government grants is tangling up their efforts. Dan Tucker from the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County talks about what this means for the industry in Puget Sound. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A violent pimp that had been operating on Seattle’s Aurora Avenue has been sentenced by a federal judge. A new study found that Seattle is tied for the least religious metro area in the country. A Seattle group is stoking fears about climate change in young people in order to push their political agenda. // Big Local: A newly-appointed Lynnwood city council member had an OnlyFans account. Dozens of road signs in Whatcom County have been stolen. // You Pick the Topic: A flight from Chicago to India had to turn around due to clogged toilets.