Watch Night. In the African American community, Watch Night services on New Year’s Eve commemorate the evening of Dec. 31, 1862, as enslaved Americans looked to Jan. 1, 1863, and the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation. The idea of a New Year’s Eve service actually is older than Freedom’s Eve, and in fact finds its roots in the Moravian Church and a 1733 New Year’s Eve service held in Germany. John Wesley incorporated the service into his denomination and some... Read more
James Dean, Roy Schatt, and me — my walk in the footsteps of the icon. On Dec. 29, 1954, photographer Roy Schatt took photos of James Dean – photos he dubbed the “Torn Sweater” series. Nine months later Dean was dead. Schatt met Dean in February, 1954, through mutual friends in New York City’s artistic communities. They hung out with actors Martin Landau and Jim Backus, dancer Eartha Kitt as well as musicians, composers, and many others. “I knew him... Read more
If Americans want to live in Bedford Falls, why did they elect Mr. Potter, who promises misery, bigotry, and theft? Most of us live in Bedford Falls, where our lives are filled with hard working and goodhearted people. We’re friendly and affable and we look out for others. Immigrants like Mr. Martini have opportunities to work hard and join our community. The elderly, the poor, and those down on their luck get help to make their lives better. When people... Read more
Dec. 17, 1903 – The Wright Brother’s First Flight (Excerpted from Soar to Success the Wright Way.) The morning of Thursday, Dec. 17 dawned cold. A thin layer of ice covered the puddles of rainwater in the sand. The days were getting colder and the wind blowing from the north at a dangerous 20 to 27 miles per hour. Brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright reasoned that the next day’s weather could be even worse and that if they wanted to... Read more
Notes From a Sermon: Third Sunday in Advent Luke 1:39-55 includes Mary’s song; commonly referred to as the Magnificat. Magnificat is named after the first line in the Latin: Magnificat anima mea Dominum or “My Soul magnifies the Lord.” Magnifies. Enlarges. Makes bigger. Celebrates. Christians have historically been uncomfortable with Mary’s Magnificat. As Mary says, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent... Read more
Notes From a Sermon: Christ the King Sunday Christ the King Sunday ( John 18:33-37) is a special day on the Church calendar, like Lent or Holy Week leading up to Easter or Advent, the weeks before Christmas. Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Advent have been part of the Christian community for more than 1,000 years. Christ the King Sunday has only been celebrated for around 100 years. In the days after WW I, when millions had died carrying out... Read more
Four years ago, Fox News lied to Americans about the presidential election. This isn’t an opinion, it’s a documented fact that Fox News intentionally and repeatedly lied about the 2020 presidential election. Fox News paid $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems for knowingly and willfully broadcasting lies. “Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees and our customers,” said Dominion CEO John Poulos. Despite facing another billion dollar lawsuit because of... Read more
Mark 10:46-52 “What do you want me to do for you?” In the Grateful Dead’s Box of Rain, lyricist Robert Hunter echoed the words of Jesus when he asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “What do you want me to doTo do for you to see you through?For this is all a dream we dreamedOne afternoon long ago” Phil Lesh,who wrote the Box of Rain music, died Oct. 25 at age 84. On Oct. 27,... Read more
Christian supporters of convicted felon Donald Trump are wrong. They are wrong just like tens of millions of Christians before them also were wrong. The first Christians were wrong when they said that only Jews could follow Jesus. Christians were wrong when they wanted Christianity as the official religion of Rome. Christians were wrong when they murdered Jews across Europe during the Middle Ages. Christians were wrong when they murdered tens of thousands of Muslims during the Crusades. Christians were... Read more
Do you follow Faith on the Fringe Facebook? Here’s a recent post and response about Donald Trump: Last week when I posted about the godlessness and immorality of Donald Trump, someone responded by questioning the faith of President Obama. Here’s an example of honest, thoughtful, Christian introspection, something that Trump is clearly, obviously, not capable of. Where is Christianity in the U.S. when some Christians believe that Trump is a Christian while Obama is not? There is a core, moral... Read more
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