The Better Thing

"Mother and Child", Gustav Klimt Awake at dawn, spit-up stained pajamas.Cracked, aching breasts, eyes rimmed black with sleep.Did I choose the better thing?A sharp cry, magical when first expressed, now primordial screech. Ears ringing, head fuzzy, temper rising.Did I choose the better thing?Excrement in excess, diaper rashes and soiled onesies. Teeth piercing gums, inconsolable drooling…

Finding Plymouth Rock: A Theology of Flight

Landing of the Pilgrims', (1877). From "Our Country: a Household History for All Readers, from the Discovery of America to the Present Time", Volume 1, by Benson J. Lossing. [Johnson & Miles, New York, 1877]. Artist Albert Bobbett. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images) We all know the story. In 1620, 102 English Puritans boarded…

Paid by the Convert: Revivalism in America

Today I'm linking an enlightening video on revivalism in the United States and why American churches today incorporate practices such as altar calls, mindless repetition in music, spontaneous baptisms, speaking in tongues, and other forms of emotionalism in worship. Of particular interest is the fact that some preachers during this revival period worked on commission,…

There Are No Such Things as Giants

Two things happen simultaneously when a well-known Christian dies. First, Christians wonder what will happen to his or her ministry, who will fill such big shoes, "what will we do without so and so?" Second, the naysayers begin dredging up every negative fact and scandal to smear his/her name while the deceased teacher's followers go…

The Chief End of Man

The current pandemic has seen more than just the loss of life and livelihood. For many people it feels like the loss of identity and purpose too.  Who are we if we aren’t actively involved in this, that or the other? What purpose do we serve if we no longer have a job? Of what…