Not a failure: “My daughter is pregnant.” Failure: “My daughter had an abortion because she knew darn well what would happen if we found out she was pregnant.” Not a failure: “My child is severely depressed.” “My child has debilitating anxiety.” “My child is suicidal.” Failure: “I have no idea how to help my child, but I’ll be damned if I let someone stranger into our personal lives. Professional help is for parents who can’t hack it, and... Read more
In my post for the Register about the Black Mass that will be reenacted at Harvard, I included this paragraph: Satan is real, and he is not fussy. He doesn’t care if you are kidding or not when you call him by name. This is why I tell my kids to stay far, far away from participating in anything occult — ouija boards, tarot cards, etc. — even if it’s just a game. An invitation is an invitation, and Satan... Read more
We don’t have to be completely sincere or completely profound when we call on God. He responds as if we already love Him, in order to help us love Him. Read more
at least according to Simcha Fisher, whoever that is, who has a new Tumblr account and is only a little bit afraid to use it. I’ll be adding more shareable quotes from my book in the coming weeks. I don’t really know how to use Tumblr. Do I put everything on my Tumblr page and share it on Facebook and Twitter and such? Do I blog it and link back to Tumblr? All of the above? Anyway, I can’t quite bring... Read more
Oh, it feels good to be on the cutting edge. The other day, I read about a new sort of free-form playground in Wales, where kids apparently play with garbage and light fires, with adult approval. It’s meant to correct modern parents’ tendencies to shelter their children from every possible bump, bruise, and tumble, and to teach them to assess risk on their own. It’s called “The Land.” According to an article in The Atlantic: The ground is muddy in... Read more
I don’t know why the crestfallen pirate voice always seems appropriate to me, but it always does. Read more
“Be not afraid,” says the angel. Be not afraid, and entrust your life to Christ, who wants only good for you. All right, but what about when someone else’s life is entrusted to us? What about when we have the power over someone else’s life — the power to alter it forever, even the power to end it? Remember what happened to Uzzah, who saw the Ark of the Covenant wobbling, and without even thinking, he stepped forward and... Read more
I’m working on a project, and would love to hear from you — women or men. I’d like to know a few things, and you’re welcome to share anonymously if you’d rather. What was the most helpful to you, either materially, emotionally, or spiritually? This could include something that someone did or said, or something that you realized on your own. What response did you get that was unhelpful? If you could speak to someone in your situation, what would... Read more
Wellity wellity wellity, look who is five years old! No, not that Puerto Rican tire fire. No, not sixty gazillion Isabellas and Sophies, Aidens, Jaydens, and Bradens. No, not even that weird protuberance on the side of my foot that doesn’t hurt or anything, so I’m just going to officially not know about it anymore. NO, CRAZY, IT’S PATHEOS! Like the gracious host it be, Patheos central is inviting us bloggers to share our favorite posts. I’ve been blogging for... Read more
Eventually, the new All of Bach website will host . . . well, all of Bach. Every Friday, the Netherlands Bach Society will post a video of themselves performing something by Bach. So far, they have six pieces up, 1,074 to go. Hooray! Here’s a short trailer introducing the idea of the “statue of sound” they’re building to honor Bach and his gift: Read more
I Have to Sit Down
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