I like asking questions, I always have. Historically this has been a source of trouble for me, but generally speaking, an enjoyable kind of trouble that I would never trade for anything. Questions often result in feeling and thinking, both of which are healthy expressions of what it means to be human, and anyone who … Continue reading The Question I most often ask.
The pastor where I attended church on this Easter Sunday took his text from the gospel of John chapter eleven. If you are unfamiliar with this passage, it is where Jesus raises His friend Lazarus from the dead. It was an encouraging message and appropriate for the day, but as the pastor was reading the … Continue reading Jesus raises a stink…
Coming of age in the 1980’s, I was the poster child for American Evangelicalism at every intersection of its emerging influence, including politics and entertainment. Rush Limbaugh provided my political education and Carman (Carmelo Domenic Licciardello) provided the soundtrack. Both of these iconic figures died within a day of each other in February. Contemporary Christian … Continue reading Pundits, Poets, and Presidents
“Who wears the pants in the family?” is an idiom of a bygone era that reinforced the center of authority on men in family and society as the ones who “wore the pants.” This term was disparagingly applied to women who for various reasons would become the authority in the home or organization. It is … Continue reading Mary wore pants. Probably.
There is a profound difference between advice and truth. Advice is like a hairbrush; a skilled stylist can utilize it in a way that creates a fresh and distinctive look. But after a few days if the recipient isn’t intentional, the impression of the stylist’s brush is quickly forgotten. Truth, on the other hand, is … Continue reading The Truth about Ally Henny.
In 1953, Russian immigrant Sam Born purchased the Rodda Candy Company and promptly replaced the handcrafted marshmallow chick line with the cold mechanization of mass production to make Peeps. What was once the work of a single candy artisan that involved a twenty-seven-minute process to stylize an individual Peep has now been reduced to a … Continue reading Me and my Peeps: A poor substitute for the Holy Spirit
"Tell me who profits from violence, and I will tell you how to stop it." -Henry Ford Guns don't kill people. People kill people, and people with guns kill a lot of people. What did our founders have in mind when they penned the Second Amendment? The Second Amendment reads; "A well regulated Militia, being … Continue reading People with Guns
Is there a fog in the American Pulpit? At Easter many Americans make their obligatory pilgrimage back to the Church. For many, this is when their thoughts turn toward the subject of Christ and His church. We should take comfort in the fact that a significant number in our culture still recognize the spiritual foundations … Continue reading Preaching at Easter
More observations as to why people aren't attending Church In my last entry on the subject, I detailed some of the responses to the question that I posed on my facebook page. I asked why many of my friends no longer attend church. Generally the responses centered on perceived judgmental attitudes from others. Today I wanted to share … Continue reading Is radical change the answer for declining churches?
Wendell Berry beautifully writes in How to be a Poet; Breathe with unconditional breath the unconditioned air. Shun electric wire. Communicate slowly. Live a three-dimensioned life; stay away from screens. Stay away from anything that obscures the place it is in. There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places. The Bible opens with the story of God intentionally planting humanity … Continue reading Only sacred places.
