If you have been wondering whether or how all the Christmas decorating you have been doing or are planning to do this month aligns with Scripture, just consider this passage, one of the lectionary texts for Sunday: Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory... Read more
Progressive Christian Transgender Youth Last summer Rebekah was a featured speaker at the ELCA’s annual youth gathering. She spoke to the crowd of over 30,000 youth, and had us on our feet cheering at her courage and faith. So it was with a lot of joy that I discovered Marvel has now featured her as their first transgender hero in the compelling new Hero Project Series: Real Kids Making A Real Difference. Rebekah is a trans young person willing to... Read more
Are you thinking about church planning for 2040? In our 24-hour world hyper-mediated culture it’s hard to plan for tomorrow morning, let alone next month. Many organizations have tightened-up five-year planning processes, focusing instead on 3, 6, 9, 12 month goals and objectives. Change is such a constant, and so disruptive, long-range planning is considered somewhat passé. Nevertheless, if you can step back and take the long view, you gain much needed perspective. And if there are major changes over... Read more
Either you play D&D, or you want to play D&D, or your child plays, or your child wants to play. Everyone’s into D&D these days. Just look at Stranger Things. I’m going to tell one extremely geeky D&D story. It’s my hope this story, as intricate and granular as it may be, can offer those new to the genre as well as those steeped in the genre some insights not only into table-top role-playing culture, but also some echoes for... Read more
As promised, here’s a “best albums of 2019” list for your listening pleasure. If you’re playlist isn’t completely full of Christmas albums, consider these. Then add your own recommendations in the comments. Bodega – Shiny New Model (the perfect mix of punk, drone, dance, and new) Sudan Archives – Athena (such a unique sound, it moves the bar) LCD Soundsystem – Electric Lady Sessions (James Murphy is always on high repeat, especially when writing) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds... Read more
Matthew in the Lectionary A little bit of geek with your gospel this week. Please bear with me. We follow the Revised Common Lectionary in our congregation and denomination. This is a three-year schedule of readings for Sunday worship. Over the course of three years, the congregation hears a lot (but not all) of the Bible, with a special focus on the gospels. Year A is Matthew, year B is Mark, year C is Luke. John is mixed in over... Read more
I have my doubts as to whether I am the appropriate person to write a Kanye West post. I do not listen to rap much, and when I do, I can’t say it’s Kanye I prefer. Same for Joel Osteen. Prosperity thinking isn’t much my cup of tea. I’m more a theology of the cross kind of guy. Now that I’ve solidly established my Christian hipster credentials, I’m going to attempt a quasi-defense both of Kanye’s new album, and Osteen’s... Read more
Let’s start with a non-moralizing observation. Donald Trump believes he is above the law, that he as president is unimpeachable. As a political tactic, the goal is to delegitimize the impeachment process, since the Republicans seem to believe impeachment by Congress is inevitable. Trump isn’t playing well with the Republicans vis-a-vis this political strategy (thus his tweets), but he’s got such big coat-tails their only choice seems to still be to attempt to ride them. As a Trumpian tactic, everything... Read more
Might you, dear reader, countenance the revealing of my secret identity as the simulacrum of a hipster? Indulge me, if you would, as I tease content from that staid purveyor of all things hipster in radio-land. I mean NPR, of course. It was awfully cute the other day when the Protojournalist–its by-line: very original reporting–over at NPR decided to ask, What exactly is hipster Christianity? Cute because they clearly have no idea what a hipster is. Nor did anyone they interviewed. In the post, they... Read more
This week I sat on a panel on LGBTQ+ spirituality organized by the multicultural office and the social work department at the University of Arkansas. First question out of the gate: Do you consider yourself more spiritual or religious? As I sat and listened to responses, I realized this discussion, about spiritual vs. religious, is really part of the popular conversation. Panelists had very thoughtful things to say. Meanwhile, I kept thinking to myself: I don’t consider myself spiritual or religious.... Read more
Clint Schnekloth
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