Bil Aulenbach I was listening to a friend preach a powerful sermon in which he told the story of a conservative woman who no longer felt welcome in her UCC church. My friend sympathized with her concerns. I had another reaction: “Can a conservative person be a follower of Jesus, a first-century radical nonviolent revolutionary who shook … Read more
(This is the fourth in my series of Bil’s ideas about ten misconceptions in Christianity today. This post suggests that the institutional church thinks the trinity makes sense. It doesn’t!) As a child preparing for confirmation, I learned about the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I knew the Father was God, … Read more
I was raised in the 1930s in a “Puritanical Morality.” Sunday was church day; we attended morning and evening. Everything other than church was closed or forbidden, and we didn’t have television. People prayed before each meal. Kissing was barely allowed on screen or in public. Everyone was fully dressed. Wearing a skirt above the … Read more
It depends. Unloading in church during prayers or the sermon would be a total disaster, really bad. However, when tripping while running alone, a burst of lalochezia might be helpful and therapeutic. I was a PK (preacher’s kid), which can carry stigmas. My biggest stigma was being fat (they called me “Crisco Kid”). To avoid … Read more
(I refuse to capitalize or use bold print when referring to these impostors.) The phrase christian nationalism (cn) is not a new phenomenon that began with DT. He simply endorsed it, and it endorsed him. Unfortunately, cn is not just an American concept. It has an international history. An astute historian could probably trace it … Read more
(This is the third in my series of Bil’s ideas about ten misconceptions in Christianity today. This post suggests that the institutional church thinks the Bible is inerrant. It’s not!) Over and over, I hear the claim, “God wrote the Bible!” I always have to ask “Which god? The Old Testament (OT) one, the New … Read more
Loose lips sink ships—and can kill people. The first half of that saying came from WWII and has been etched into my brain. When people talked too much or spread false statements, others died needlessly. That war is over, but the axiom still holds true today. Words can kill either the talker or the listener. … Read more
I have been a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center for years. Since 2000, it has been publishing an annual list of hate groups and antigovernment groups (which are similar to hate groups) in the United States. In 2023, it listed 835 antigovernment groups and 595 hate groups, totaling 1,430. For me, those numbers … Read more
Every summer, my wife and I visit Laguna Beach, often regarded as the art hub of the West Coast, to enjoy the art scene. Experiencing such creativity inspires our own—me in my writing and Anne in her art. I believe all forms of the arts stimulate humanity’s creative spirit. Laguna Beach hosts four major summer … Read more
Here’s a story of three friends who were sitting around chatting. One of them asked, “When you are lying in your casket at your funeral, and someone is giving the eulogy, what do you want them to say to the congregation?” Art said, “I want to hear what a wonderful teacher and servant of God … Read more