Those who bring the worst news into our lives can be our most valuable teachers. It’s important not to kill the messenger. We’ve all heard the expression, “Don’t kill the messenger.” Usually, you hear it from someone who is bringing you unwelcome news. They know you’ll be upset, and they don’t want you to take your anger out on them. Of course, this comes from a long tradition of kings doing just that—venting their frustration on couriers bearing difficult news.... Read more
Every four years, many Americans find emotional well-being a challenge. How can you maintain your mental health during election season? Aunt Bertha proclaims, “I just don’t see how anyone could vote (insert political party) and still be a good person!” It’s then that you shrink into the sofa cushions, knowing that if she knew your preferred candidate, she’d probably start praying for your soul. Election season is fraught with mental health challenges. From family reunions to dating, from social media... Read more
The monster FOMO daunts Westerners. Jesus and Lao Tzu defeat Fear of Missing Out by existing in the world, without being manipulated by it. Great spiritual masters understand the difference between living in the world and rooting their lives in material things. Instead of allowing the world to demand their allegiance, they walk in the spirit. In this way, Fear of Missing Out has no place in their lives. Here’s what Lao Tzu has to say in the Tao... Read more
Conservatives are outraged over Olympic drag queens and alleged trans athletes, demonstrating double standards on sexuality and gender. The Olympics aren’t the only place where conservatives have shown their double standards. It hasn’t been too long since they cried out in alarm over drag queens reading books to their children in libraries. What’s behind all that? I imagine there were some Christian dads at the library who didn’t know that the reader was a drag queen. “Oh yeah, I’d like... Read more
What do the Olympics have in common with the Christian observance of Lammas (Loaf Mass) and the Neopagan celebration of Lughnasadh? At the beginning of August, the summer Olympics are in full swing. It’s also time for the first harvest, as evidenced by roadside produce stands in many neighborhoods. This is a time-between-times, when it still feels like Summer, but you know it won’t be long before the first leaves change. Pagans and Christians both mark this time with the... Read more
Donald Trump isn’t the fictional Antichrist as depicted in apocalyptic literature. But I am convinced that he is soundly anti-Christ. When I say that Donald Trump is an antichrist, I don’t mean that he is the Antichrist. There’s an enormous difference between the two. In my last article, “No, Trump Is Not the Antichrist (Neither Is Anyone Else)” I discussed the myths about a future Antichrist character that emerged among American Evangelicals in the nineteenth century. I invite you to... Read more
People are asking—Does Trump’s wounded head mark him as the Antichrist? The answer is no. And nobody else is the Antichrist, either. I don’t take apocalyptic literature in the Bible literally (I do, however, take it seriously). If I did take it literally, I might be persuaded that Trump is the Antichrist. When I was young, my parents raised me to interpret the events of the Book of Revelation as a literal prediction of future events. I must admit that... Read more
I’m not prejudiced,” my friend said. “I mean, I even have Black friends!” He needed help navigating cultural icebergs without getting sunk. He continued, “I even like rap music, Mexican food, and Asian art! My church did a mission trip to work with the Indians (American or South Asian, I can’t remember which). I was raised not to see color, to treat everybody as equal, and I raised my kids that way, too. So, I can’t be prejudiced. Pass that... Read more
What does the Bible mean when it says that Jesus emptied himself? Taoist philosophers Lao Tzu and Winnie the Pooh offer some insight. We live in a world preoccupied with acquiring more, filling ourselves to the brim. But Jesus, Lao Tzu, and Winnie the Pooh suggest that emptiness is a better way to be useful. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Chapter 11 JH McDonald Version Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel, but it is... Read more
Was Donald Trump’s shooter justified? Absolutely not—political violence never is! Every liberal and conservative should agree on this. I haven’t pulled punches in my opinion of Donald Trump. I believe he characterizes everything opposed to the love and peace of Jesus. For years, liberal and progressive writers have warned about the societal consequences of Christians climbing into bed with their “Chosen One.” For this reason, I’ve heard some suggestions that the best thing would be for the candidate to drop... Read more
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