“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. . . . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in [...]
Archive for April, 2009
Speaking of wisdom & contentment in a nonstop jitterbugging world!!!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Theology on April 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The world is a sham (The wisdom of Thomas Merton)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith & Church, Theology on April 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The late great Catholic monk was decades ahead of his time in his bleak and prophetic predictions of where consumerism and capitalism run amock would lead the Western world: – “If we are fools enough to remain at the mercy of the people who want to sell us happiness, it will be impossible for us [...]
Of William F. Buckley & other trueblood Conservatives
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Books, Media on April 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The New York Times Magazine feature this coming Sunday is written by Chris Buckley about his wonderfully eccentric and much-admired parents, William F. “Bill” and Pat Buckley. You can read it now at the nytimes.com, which is free, of course, with registration. (Contrary to what conservatives who don’t actually read it for themselves may say, [...]
It’s still National Poetry Month & Poetry is good for you!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith & Church, literature & poetry, Theology on April 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Emily Dickinson remains, arguably, the best of America’s best poets. I read her often because I love the eccentric use of language and punctuation that comes at the reader in such abrupt bursts. I love that she was a mystic. She rejected orthodox and conventional religion and could not abide the strict Calvinism of her [...]
JITTERBUGGER to pass on that 56-mile footrace
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Uncategorized on April 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I was so inspired when I read that Mike Lightfoot is running a 56-mile marathon to raise mission funds for clean-water projects in Africa that, well . . . I thought about entering the 56-mile marathon to raise money for this great cause myself. But then I thought better of it. Mike Lightfoot is the [...]
Of greed and grief and tears and $$$
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith & Church, Movies, Theology on April 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Not long ago I watched Michael Douglas’ classic performance in the movie “Wall Street,” which includes that powerful and pitch-perfect scene in which the ruthless robber baron Gordon Gekko declares, “Greed is good.” Boy, you could squeeze theology out of that flick all day, starting, of course, with the love of money being the root [...]
Countdown to ordination (Part 2 of continuing series)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith & Church, Theology on April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I still have days, although it’s more like only moments now, when I wonder why in heaven’s name God would call me, of all people, to ordained ministry. Yes, I know that God has always called or used the most unlikeliest of people to do God’s salvific work. Moses, for example, who murdered an Egyptian [...]
God the Mother Almighty
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Books, literature & poetry, Theology on April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Call me a heretic, burn me at the stake–whip me, beat me, thrill me–but I don’t think God is a male or a female. I also think God is a male and a female. God is Father. God is Mother. We Christians live in, and with, such paradoxes. Maternal and feminine images of God are [...]
Risky Business (Freudian Slips Div.)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith & Church on April 19, 2009 | 1 Comment »
“A distinguished yet insufferably pompous evangelist was preaching before a gathering of Presbyterian ministers. “He was attacking moral decadence, particularly sexual sin in contemporary society–risky business for a preacher prone to sermonic slips. “‘I remember,’ he shouted, ‘when we looked up to women, expected them to set the moral tone for society. We placed them [...]
Sam Houston, a genuine profile in Texas courage
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Books on April 18, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I’ve been so astounded at the rhetoric emanating from the Alamo and Austin lately that, speaking as a proud Texas native who’s as Texan as you can get, it actually hurts to see the state become a national laughingstock. It’s been bizarre to see film footage of someone as mindless and consumed with bloodlust as [...]
