No, they’re not walking into a bar. But perhaps they should… Here’s what I know about TMJ: well, I know a lot, and guess/infer a lot more–this is some of each. For starters 1) it affects more women than men; 2) it is a whole-person issue, encompassing physical, dental, and psychological factors–which means that no type of insurance coverage– even if you have benefits for all three of these areas–wants to cover treatment. Some come right out and say in... Read more
Yes, this is what I do when I should be working on sermon notes, or prayerfully reflecting on high holy days. I rhyme things. It’s a sickness… My car and my office are both a big mess And I’m a big pile of hot-wired stress– Even the preacher has to confess when It’s Holy Week again. Friday’s black (but not like for shopping) The dang Easter bunny comes hippity hopping And I wish this headache would just start stopping... Read more
This morning, I went to an interfaith Service of Unity and Hope at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park. Last Sunday, 2 people were murdered there. Another victim was shot at a nearby retirement facility, also connected to the Jewish community. The man responsible for these heinous acts of violence—we won’t say his name, because I don’t believe in making celebrities out of killers—he had a history. Some long and awful history. He was involved with the KKK, and... Read more
I’m tired of hearing “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people!” I’m tired of conversations full of soundbites from everyone’s favorite pro/anti organization or polarizing media outlet. And I’m tired of saying “God is present with us in tragedy and loss of life… we grieve with the families of the victims… we hope for a day in which God’s peace may be known on the earth and blah blah blah…” For love of ALL THAT IS, I am tired of... Read more
I was on the phone with a pastoral search committee a couple weeks ago—no, I was not being interviewed for a job (cause dang, that would be awkward). I was serving as a reference. I’ve done that quite a bit lately, and I usually feel like the person on the other end of the phone is going through a bullet list of things that 1) a denominational entity has given them or 2) they pulled from the employment handbook of... Read more
Major spoiler alert—(insert Ted and Robin salute—Major Spoiler Alert!) If don’t want to know how the HIMYM finale ends, stop reading. If you’re like, What’s a bro code? Why are we suiting up? —keep reading anyway. There’s a spiritual thread here. Faithful viewers of the long-running How I Met Your Mother have always known they were in for a multi-twisted ending. You don’t play with the space time continuum like these writers have done— weaving past, present and future together with fantasy and... Read more
Which Downton Abby character are you? Buzzfeed wanted to know. Ok, fine. I’ll play. I started clicking on stuff. Pick a color…sure. But like…for what? For a new dress, or for new paint in the living room? For nail polish, or liturgical paraments for the sanctuary? Ooh, and if yes to either the nail polish or the liturgical stuff, WHAT SEASON IS IT? Then, pick a movie. Like, I don’t know what kind of mood I’m supposed to be in,... Read more
I’ve long had a theory about Fred Phelps: He didn’t really hate gay people. Well, ok, he probably did. But not to the degree that his antics would lead one to believe. He was probably homophobic in the same way that a lot of people are homophobic…in a passive way that is mildly accepted by much of popular culture (which is a whole ‘nother post) but you don’t see all of those mainstream haters pounding the pavement with these ugly signs, and... Read more
Here is the question that will be on Patheos Public Square next week: While the principle of religious freedom is inscribed in the Constitution and forms a core idea of American democracy, it has also become an increasingly embattled issue amid broader cultural tensions over individual rights, the power of government, and the separation of church and state. Is religious freedom under threat, as many advocates claim? What does it mean to defend religious freedom in a diverse, modern society... Read more
The Sunday before Valentine’s day, I was doing my usual Sunday afternoon thing–staring at the wall, trying to recover from preaching (which sometimes feels precisely like recovering from a bear-chase situation). As I mindlessly scrolled through Facebook, I noticed a trend. Several consecutive pics in my newsfeed of friends displaying the Valentine cards, treats, and mail boxes they were making with their kids. After scrolling through approximately 800 of these, I got nervous. “Hey,” I said to my spouse…”Does H- have a... Read more
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