Live not by Lies

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in 1974 wrote an Essay Live not by Lies. It is worth reading still today. I have several update observations based on it, ways that people have tried to make me live by lies. "Stop shouting/yelling at me!" People accuse me of this quite often, usually, but not always, when I have actually … Continue reading Live not by Lies →

“When Someone Knocks You Down …

Get right up again. Show some pluck like Donald Duck..." https://www.youtube.com/embed/3D1SesjvpIA Lent, Day 6 I've been questioning whether Donald Duck's example is the right one to follow. He doesn't always seem to get the better of the situation that way... In the personal introspection encouraged by Lent, I have come to the conclusion, that my … Continue reading “When Someone Knocks You Down … →

Time for a paradigm shift

She had no intent of making sweeping changes to her church, to any church, but yet the little mustard seed of her comment -- what a great tree is growing from it in my mind, and I hope it has the faith to make great changes. Churches don't do reconciliation well. They kick the "problem" … Continue reading Time for a paradigm shift →

They make themselves caricatures of their true selves, becoming more silly and ridiculous…

I know I have stated this before, but perhaps now is a good time to state it with my utmost clarity: I know there are people who may not appreciate the way I have portrayed them in my blog entries. I have always tried to portray people as accurately and fairly as possible, tried to … Continue reading They make themselves caricatures of their true selves, becoming more silly and ridiculous… →

Actually it makes me a little queasy

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19 KJV (*Note: This is the annual "Christmas Letter" blog post. Since I managed to skip this post last year, the post covers more of a two year period.) To some, the passage above is … Continue reading Actually it makes me a little queasy →

Feeling Alone

(At least, any others made invisible were already invisible when we got there, and so we had never seen them to know that they had been made invisible before we got there.)

Church Inc. is Church Ltd.

The Church as a business and organization has GOT to stop. Someone should not come to church and ask for help with a spiritual matter, and find that the church staff or members first consider its purported impact on the church itself, and promise to help the suppliant with their issue, but only respond with … Continue reading Church Inc. is Church Ltd. →

2017: starting and restarting and finishing

A lot of things seem to have begin end dates of the new year. Before I could ride my bicycle this morning, to properly track the numbers I want to on it, I had to reset the odometer so I could track my mileage for the year. Last fall was open enrollment for health benefits … Continue reading 2017: starting and restarting and finishing →

Reasonableness affects membership

One of the dangers of starting a debate, is that you never know for sure where logic might go. It is about the same as Bilbo, in the Lord of the Rings, warning Frodo about walking out his door. It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if … Continue reading Reasonableness affects membership →

Why I Favor Church Choirs over Praise Teams

I woke up this Sunday morning thinking about church, and about singing in choir, when a stray thought snapped across my brain linking various data points and observations into a coherent whole: Choirs are more egalitarian and inclusive than praise teams/praise bands, even though the music may be less "populist." I have been a church … Continue reading Why I Favor Church Choirs over Praise Teams →