This site is a place of respite for the inquisitive mind and the weary heart. We are all created to be curious about our surroundings, we have an innate self-awareness, and we often experience a tug towards spiritual things. I use the tenants of scripture as the source of truth to address these matters of the heart.
Shalom is a well-known Hebrew term that is usually translated into the word ‘peace’. The term appears 237 times in the Old Testament. It conveys a sense of completeness, positive welfare, and health. Shalom Talk is our attempt to share things that could be helpful for a person’s wellbeing.
My name is Dan. I am the content editor, creator of the essays, children’s stories, and poetry for this website.
My story — In 1975 I met Jesus while working for the Air Force in Las Vegas, Nevada (Nellis Air Force Base). My life was a mess. My wife had taken the children home for a long visit. Things were not good between us. I knew something needed to change but was not sure what needed to change.
Then I bumped into Mike, a guy I worked with. On that day he was sharing Jesus with others in my work center. I overheard the discussion. I listened. The next day I asked Mike many questions. I rooted about my house and found a bible. I started reading. I was determined to disprove what Mike was saying.
Turned out Mike was right, I was wrong, and I yielded to Jesus. Romans 10:9 was the key for me. I accepted the fact that Jesus was Lord over me (heart change) and I believed that Jesus had been raised from the Dead. I understood the implications of redemption.
To be sure, when my wife left, I was one person. When my wife came back home a few weeks later, I was somebody else. It took time for her to adjust to the new me. Frankly, it took time for me to adjust to the new me.
Mistakes? Ya, tons of mistakes. But gradually God moved in and filled my heart with his goodness. My walk with God has been messy, extremely messy. There have been a couple of divorces in my life. The essays on this blog will gradually unfold my prodigal story. I am not proud of my history. I choose to focus on the present rather than the past.
Why do I write? I write about what I am reading in scripture, Pepper and I often talk about them. I write about things I have absorbed from the men’s group I attend at Church. God had been providing answers. The things posted on this website are all about finding respite and answers. Learning about the one true living God. Meeting the one true living God. Finding peace… Embracing grace…
I trust and pray you find the journey outlined on this blog helpful.
My view of things. I believe that God the Father Almighty is all powerful, all-knowing, eternal, and omni-present. I believe that God is the creator of all things, Jesus his only Son is our God, who was conceived by the Spirit of God, born of Mary, suffered under the Romans, was crucified, died, and resurrected. Jesus ascended into heaven sits on the right hand of the Almighty. I believe the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all Truth, empowering the church with the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe that scripture is God-breathed, given to us for teaching, reprove, and for mining God’s wisdom. I believe the focus of the New Covenant is the ransom, redemption, and restoration of individuals bonded together into the church. I believe each person who yields to Jesus as Lord and accepts His resurrection will be saved (everlasting life).
My name is Dan. I am the content editor and the creator of the essays, children’s stories, and poetry you’ll find on this website.
My Story
In 1975, while serving in the Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, my life was unraveling. My wife had taken the children home for a long visit, and things between us were strained. I knew something needed to change, but I didn’t know what.
Then I bumped into Mike, a coworker who was openly sharing Jesus with others in our work center. I overheard the conversation. I listened. The next day I asked him questions — a lot of them. I went home, dug around, found a Bible, and started reading with the intention of disproving everything Mike had said.
But the opposite happened. Mike was right. I was wrong. And I yielded to Jesus. Romans 10:9 was the key for me: confessing Jesus as Lord (a heart change) and believing He was raised from the dead. I understood the implications of redemption. Mistakes? Yes — many. But gradually God moved in and filled my heart with His goodness. My walk with God has been messy, extremely messy. But it has never been dull.
The Hard Parts
I need to put everything on the table. There have been a couple of divorces in my life. During my first marriage, my son died. That loss began a downward spiral in my spiritual life. During my second marriage, I spent years in an “exile mode,” feeling sorry for myself. Then divorce happened again.
After the second divorce, Pepper appeared in my life. She is now my life mate. A few years ago, she gave her life to Jesus. She is the technologist who supports this website. Pepper also has her own website. Her website is peppermckeanmusing.blogspot.com
The essays on this site will gradually unfold my prodigal story and the path to restoration. I am not proud of my history. I choose to focus on the present rather than the past, but I do not hide from my past in these essays. My life is a redemption story. His grace drives my movement toward a contrite heart.
What I Write about
I write about what I’m reading in Scripture. Pepper and I often talk about these things as the essays emerge. I write about things I learn from the men’s group I attend at church. I write about the things I learned years ago. I write about what the old guys (Augustine, Aquinas, and others) said about the verses I am looking at. God has been providing answers. Everything posted here is about finding respite and truth — learning about the one true living God, meeting Him, finding peace, embracing grace. I trust and pray that the journey outlined on this blog will be helpful to you.
What I Believe
I believe God the Father Almighty is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, and omnipresent. I believe God is the Creator of all things. I believe Jesus, His only Son, is our God — conceived by the Spirit of God, born of Mary, suffered under the Romans, crucified, died, and resurrected. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Almighty. I believe the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all truth, empowering the church with the Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit. I believe Scripture is God‑breathed, given for teaching, reproof, and for mining God’s wisdom. I believe the New Covenant centers on ransom, redemption, and restoration — individuals gathered into the church. I believe that anyone who yields to Jesus as Lord and believes in His resurrection will be saved.
Why “Shalom Talk”?
Shalom is a well‑known Hebrew term usually translated as “peace.” It appears 237 times in the Old Testament and conveys completeness, well‑being, and wholeness. Shalom Talk is our attempt to share things that nurture spiritual health and point toward the One who restores the soul.
