Come See John’s Heart
I was reading the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, April 7, 2019, and this article caught my eye: “150-Year-Old Priestly Heart Tours the U.S.” I had to read the title again. Yes, that’s what it said. Unbelievable! It seems the real heart of a Roman Catholic priest, John Vianney, has been set in a little … Read more
Spoiled Brats
Usually when we refer to spoiled brats, we’re talking about children. Not in this blog post—I’m referring to the now-infamous parents who decided to “help” their children attend the college of the parents’ choice. The journalistic name given to this travesty is the college admissions scandal, which currently involves thirty-three parents who allegedly bribed a … Read more
Jesus Loved Picnics
Jesus must have loved picnics. The Gospels recount two humongous picnics hosted by Rabbi Jesus. The Gospels call them feedings instead of picnics, but that’s just semantics. Both picnics and feedings happen outside on the ground despite challenging weather and insects. Mark’s descriptions of the two picnics are long winded (6:30–44 and 8:1–10). The accounts … Read more
Can I Save Myself?
I recently read Damascus Gate, a novel by Robert Stone that talks about Israel’s four-thousand-years-long quest for a Messiah. At one point, a character says, “I am my own Messiah.” Interesting! For as long as I can remember, the church has told me that I can’t save myself. Is that because I’m not smart enough … Read more
My Ski Retreats
Annie and I recently went to Big Bear Lake, California, for three days of skiing. The conditions were idyllic: sunny blue sky, forty degrees, six feet of snow pack, well-groomed trails, and not many people. In 1975, after living in Hawai’i for twenty years, Annie and I moved to southern California. During our first winter, … Read more
To Vaccinate or Not?
I am an authority on vaccinations, not by education but by on-the-job training. My wife and I are the parents of a rubella (German measles) baby, born fifty-four years ago. We still feel the effects, and life hasn’t been easy. I also come at this issue from a Christian ethical point of view. I live … Read more
I’m an Easter Guy
There are six church seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Christmas is probably most people’s favorite. I like it as a secular holiday but not as a religious one—I see no reason to celebrate fairy tales. We have no idea where, when, or how Jesus was born, but we sure spend a lot … Read more
What Is Evil?
I was in a Sunday morning adult education class about the book of Revelation (I call it the book of Revolting) when someone suggested that this book was a study of good versus evil. I asked the class who gets to decide who or what is good or evil. Dictionary.com defines evil as “morally wrong … Read more
My Aversion to Conversion
I recently read a magazine article about an acclaimed Jamaican author, Marlon James, and his award-winning book, A Brief History of Seven Killings. My interest was piqued when he shared his “deep secret.” Before his writing career took off, Marlon became a fundamentalist Christian to deal with the fact that he was gay in a … Read more