Did you see this Facebook profile frame for the eclipse? This was a sponsored ad from the Institute for Creation Research. It was a paid ad from a religious organization, and most Facebook users had no idea. Who is ICR? Let Wikipedia explain: “The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) is a Creationist apologetics institute in Dallas, Texas that specializes in media promotion of pseudoscientificcreation science and interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative as a historical event. The ICR adopts the... Read more
Both sides on the beaches of Normandy weren’t equal. Both sides at Auschwitz were not responsible. Both sides did not cause the Civil War. I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, “Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.” People went to Charlottesville because they are prejudiced racists who want to discriminate against others.... Read more
In the aftermath of the chaos in Charlottesville, too many moderates remain silent. Anti-American, anti-Semitic racists marched through the city brandishing images of bigotry and hate, culminating in a racist white, male, terrorist driving his car into a crowd of people, killing Heather Heyer and wounding dozens. The tepid response was chilling, from the president, from some pulpits and from across the cultural landscape. (For example, of 52 Republican senators, fewer than 10 addressed the racist rally for what it... Read more
A new line was drawn on the streets of Charlottesville, Va. A line as red as the blood on the pavement and as stark as the Nazi flag. Because the line is clear: those who are on the side of Nazis or those who oppose racist bigots. If you, your friends, family or fellow church members find any sort of excuse, comparison, or false equivalence associated with Aug. 12, then you are siding with Nazis. If you do not repudiate... Read more
The breath of God blows through all of creation and through each of us. The seeds of creation are in each of us. We are stardust Billion year old carbon We are golden In Hebrew, the word for Spirit, ruach, means breath. Ruach is a feminine word. So, in Genesis 1, when “… the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.“ The Spirit is feminine. God blows her breath across the face of the waters. Any verse... Read more
I heard them before I saw them. And I heard them for a long time. I was hitchhiking across rural roads in Missouri and hadn’t seen much beyond abject poverty for what felt like most of my life. The night before, I sat with my back against a tree in front of a church and watched the sun set — magnificent reds, oranges, purples and blues blended across the sky like chalk, from horizon to horizon. That was the cool... Read more
I turned 50 recently. The age where we realize there are more yesterdays than tomorrows. Half a century. All the coins in my pocket are younger than I. The most recent Supreme Court Justice is younger than I am. At 20, I was months away from being arrested and more than 15 years away from recognizing God working in my life. By age 36 I published two books. June 17, 2003, I was baptized. At age 42 I earned my... Read more
When I adopted our daughter, Joseph became my new favorite Biblical character. Read more
This song from Godspell comes into my head often… So I thought I’d post it here, to make it easy to return to. And when I’m in the mood for the original… … and the movie… Shall crime bring crime forever Strength aiding still as strong? Is it thy will, O Father That men shall toil For wrong? Oh, no, say thy mountains No, say thy skies Man’s clouded sun shall brightly rise And songs be heard, instead of sighs... Read more
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