“The Convert experience is full of surprises, not only for the pilgrims involved but for those who attempt to pastor and teach them. One Flew Over the Onion Dome tackles these challenges with up-front honesty, good humor, and steadfast faith.” — Frederica Mathewes-Green “Fr Joseph Huneycutt’s book is reminiscent of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, in that it details the pitfalls, traps and snares that so easily entrap those who set out to travel the narrow Way. Likewise, he points out... Read more

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed.” She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the co ffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load... Read more

Former chaser, Dawn writes of former Anglican Al and a “reforming mystery.” By the bye, more forming.Former Lutheran pastor chronicles THE journey — hat tip to former Prot BP. “If the world has not come to its end, it has approached a major turn in history, equal in importance to the turn from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. It will exact from us a spiritual upsurge, we shall have to rise to a new height of vision, to a... Read more

(1) Where do you like to get your news about religion? (2) What do you think is the most important religion story right now that you think the mainstream media just don’t get? (3) What is the story that you’ll be watching carefully in the next year or two? (4) Why is it important to understand the role of religion in our world today? (5) What’s the funniest, most ironic twist that you’ve seen in a religion news story lately?... Read more

In the latest issue of TOUCHSTONE, Peter J Leithart reviews a book on imagination which includes the following: “… Pascal says, we seek happiness in illusory diversions, hoping to forget our mortality.” Hoping to forget our mortality. The other night, thanks to the good will of Christian friends, my family and I attended a performance of Handel’s Messiah. I totally forgot whatever ailed me. Handel’ll do that to you. But, with all weighty respect to Handel, the credit should actually... Read more

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma. Complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, The California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemimah delivered the eulogy and... Read more

Give that gal a burqa!According to the Layman, Rev. Beth Sentell, one of co-pastors of the merged congregation, “said two considerations influenced their decision to sell the church plant to the Islamic Society. First was the amount of money offered, second was the opportunity to engage in interfiath dialogue and friendship.” She and her husband, Dr. Web Sentell, “plan to invite the Islamic congregation and its imam to a church supper where the imam will field questions. Dr. Sentell said,... Read more

St Nicholas paid his annual visit to St George Church last night. All the children left their shoes outside our new chapel (which is dedicated to St Elizabeth the Mother of the Forerunner), while we prayed the Akathist. Bags of chocolate gold coins somehow found their way into the footware. Here’s a picture of me and the culprit. The following edited repost is from a couple years back … Back in 1997 our daughter came home from day care and... Read more

Thanks to an email from Erin, a blog reader in California, who writes: Since religious films have been such a hot topic at Orthodixie lately, and since the beloved saint’s feast is upon us, I thought I might send this your way. This film about St. Nicholas is currently in production. I caught wind of this by way of a friend … who knows someone working on the film. He says it might be out in time for next Christmas.... Read more

Yes, I have read Fr Stephen’s thoughts on The Nativity Story — and I appreciated them very much. I should mention that I rarely go to see movies — can probably count on two hands the ones I’ve seen in theatres in as many years. Yet, as most of you know, I did read New Line Cinema’s movie script for The Nativity Story and (happily) found it much less than I feared it would be. In other words, in that... Read more