Religion
Can’t We Bomb the World into Peace?
I’ve recently seen a lot of Christians posting on FB a quote from a Michael Franti song from about 20 years ago: “We can bomb the world to pieces; But we can’t bomb it into peace.” When you first read it, you want to raise your fist and yell, “Hell, yeah!” or at least that’s […]
How Can You Be a Christian and Vote for…
I wasn’t able to vote in our national election this year, due to an unexpected death of a family member which required my being out-of-town on election day, too late to get in on absentee or early voting. But to listen to some of my Christian friends on FB, it’s a good thing I didn’t. […]
What should we call “Illegal Aliens”?
With election day in high gear it was hard to get away from all sorts of posts. Many that I saw appeared “religious” in nature but by the quote or verse used you could tell which way the poster leaned, essentially making them political posts rather than religious. Worse yet, political under the guise of […]
There’s Only One Hope
Everybody seems to have something to say about the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the resulting riots there and in other cities around the country but something that even many of the most righteous church people seem to be neglecting is the spiritual aspect of all of this. . It’s easy to […]
Why You’re Being Deleted
I remember being shocked when Barrack Obama won his first term as president, fully believing that the Republican nominee would win (just as I was shocked when the Republican won in our most recent Presidential election). My pastor at the time suggested my surprise was a result of having only friends, and reading/listening only to commentators, whose views aligned only […]
Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire
I was just 14 at the time, but remember there was more to the fire than the news was reporting. I could sense my mother was more troubled than news of a random fire just south of our home in Cincinnati would produce, but my questions didn’t get many immediate answers. Later, the news would […]
Gates, Walls and Parades: A Biblical Approach? (Another Necessary Response to Nazarenes United for Peace)
“You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means” is a quote that came to mind when I saw the new post by Nazarenes United For Peace. This quote was said by Inigo Montoya in the movie Princess Bride, to Vizzini in response to his continued use of […]
Will You Make a Difference This MLK Jr. Day…and Beyond?
As we are approaching Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, many people are looking forward to time off work. Some will enjoy a short trip to see family or friends. Others, however, may have different thoughts that come to mind, reflecting on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message. The older among us may remember King […]
A Sensible Response to Nazarenes United for Peace, “An Altar Call”
Many are quick to politicize events that happen in the news. This politicizing can even be in the form of a call to the so-called Way of Christ. The trouble is, too often these calls are fraught with assumptions and mis-interpretations, as is a recent statement posted by Nazarenes United for Peace.
On Flags, Allegiance and Idolatry
With the recent hubbub over our National Anthem and respect for the flag of the United States, other discussions have sprouted up, some about the presence of the national flag in places of worship which have often led to conversations about perceived empire worship or misplaced allegiances. I’ve appreciated the discussions I have read about these […]
Here I Sit 