Death is one of those topics everybody is interested in, even if nobody wants to think about it much. As a Pastor, I come face to face with death often. I have done roughly 100 funerals, and assisted, spoken at or simply attended maybe a hundred more. I have been blessed to sit with families … Continue reading Presenting: A Series On Death?
I think this bears re-posting, as every year the same old lies get repeated ad nauseum. Read this and ENJOY Christmas this year!
At some point, while watching the History Channel, talking to friends or browsing social media, you are bound to come across a familiar refrain: “Christmas isn’t Christian! Jesus was born in the summer! December 25th was stolen from the Egyptians/Babylonians/Romans! Christmas trees are pagan! Santa is an anagram of Satan!” And once again, it’s not just an accusation leveled by angry atheists. The greatest perpetrators of this myth are well-meaning but badly misinformed Christians.
Now let me say again that I am not attacking you or the people who taught you, because all of us want to be faithful to God’s will for our lives. But let me also say again that it is the Truth that sets us free. And I refuse to give Satan, the occult, the neopagans or any other group or individual power that is not theirs, whether it be Halloween or Christmas, rock n’…
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I’m not a pet person. I know this is hard for pet people to understand, because SO many people have pets, and pets are one of those things we just take for granted that everybody feels the same way about. But it is very uncomfortable for me when I visit the home of someone who … Continue reading On Race and Unity
Who are you? What defines you? What is your identity? "Identity" is a loaded term these days, being all wrapped up in things like sexuality, sexual preference, gender identity, racial identity, political affiliation – and it’s all become very divisive, very incendiary – and very confusing. Some of us might joke about the political correctness … Continue reading Who Are You?
Life is messy. That's the reason I don't care for so many Christian movies. It's not that I have anything against Christians making movies or movies about Christianity or the attempt to share the Gospel with people who are far more willing to watch a movie than listen to a sermon. It's just that so … Continue reading Not Like In the Movies
See that beautifully manicured mullet up there? Yep, that's me, about a month after my 14th birthday and finishing the 8th grade. It's my confirmation photo. If you weren't raised Catholic or Lutheran, you may have no idea what confirmation is. So let me try and explain it - from the Lutheran perspective. For many … Continue reading Why Do We Do That: Confirmation
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light … Continue reading Creation and Evolution
There is a phrase often repeated (and wrongly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi) that goes something like this, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.” The purpose of this well-liked phrase is to remind Christians to let their actions speak for themselves, and to say more about love than anything … Continue reading Use Your Words
I love the truth. I am a philosopher and a theologian at heart, which means I love to ask questions, I love to learn about the history of things, and I love to know why we do the things we do. What that often means is that I have to reshape my way of thinking … Continue reading No, Easter Was Not Stolen From Pagans
In spite of the fact that we are not able to gather in person to observe it, the Season of Lent nevertheless concludes this week in what is known as Holy Week. Holy Week has been observed since the earliest days of the Church, and reflects what is known as Christ's Passion, or suffering, on … Continue reading Why Do We Do That: Holy Week
Honest Musings from a Regular Guy... Who Also Happens to Be a Lutheran Pastor 