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Paul Graves

In March 2026, Paul will have completed 30 years as a faith/values writer, and he has plans to keep writing! After almost 37 years in Sandpoint, ID, Paul and his wife moved to Hillsboro, OR in March 2025, to be close to their son and family. They live in a retirement community, where Paul’s professional back as a retired United Methodist pastor and also a retired geriatric social worker, have been welcomed and are grist for the writing-mill on matters of spirituality, politics and aging.
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Loving your enemies takes a backbone, not just good feelings

Columnist Paul Graves explores Jesus’ call to love our enemies, challenging Christians to replace vengeance and fear with courage, grace and peaceful action.
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‘Teach Your Children Well’ shows why small acts of kindness matter

Paul Graves reflects on a veteran seeking help, the Starfish Story and civic action, urging readers to teach compassion and make a difference.
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Indifferentism: How apathy toward others fuels division

Paul Graves explores indifferentism, spiritual apathy and the choice to respond with empathy, kindness, justice and action.
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Holy Conversation: A sacred, different way of living together

Explore how ordinary conversations and relationships can become “Holy Conversations” through greater awareness, humility and a different way of living together.
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A Hillsboro street corner, an ICE debate and the slice of reality we choose

A columnist reflects on ICE, an immigration vigil, civil disagreement and why people of faith must choose justice, compassion and solidarity with immigrants.
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Myths aren’t lies: Why the Bible’s power lives in metaphor, not literalism

Rather than dismiss myths as falsehoods, this column argues biblical stories use metaphor to reveal profound truths about God, faith and humanity.
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How many flags make you a patriot? 

A reflection on flags, patriotism, and political devotion. The author argues that patriotism is defined by actions and democratic values, not just symbols.
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