Johann Von Staupitz had no idea what he was getting into when he first met Martin Luther in 1506. Luther had recently left his legal studies at the University of Erfurt to embrace a life …
In the midst of a season that calls to mind the birth of the Christ child, and the upheaval in the world of the occupation by the Roman Empire surrounding the place of his birth, …
A year and a half ago or so, I wrote an essay about something I called “Trumpamentalism.” I wasn’t really trying to invent another clever political insult. I was trying to describe something I recognized. …
I love my 2013 Hyundai Tucson, which we bought new. It has 112,000 miles and has needed no major repairs. Until a recent beautiful summer day here in Martinez, California. I was driving on the …
Two Sacraments Most Protestants practice two ordinances upon which we can all agree to a certain extent. My own denomination observes three ordinances, and both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches count seven, …
Several of the people I have been working with professionally have recently declared their commitment to the Christian faith to be absolute. They have complete buy-in, they have proclaimed. I have consequently felt at liberty …
“Do you know why people get together at Christmas? Because every time they do it might be the last time. Every Christmas is last Christmas.” -from Dr. Who 253, “Last Christmas,” written by Steven …
You’re not swearing when you say it’s been a Hell of a year. You put it down on paper, and it doesn’t look like much. But things add up. Things bleed you, leave you weak. …
Today is the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It is our nation’s 250th birthday!! This is a momentous day. Yet I find myself sitting here with a profound and unexpected …
The contemporary Christian rock group Petra dedicated an entire album to the theme of spiritual warfare when they released This Means War in 1987. With a title track that channeled John Milton’s Paradise Lost in …