There are hundreds of shampoos on the market; far too many to make any logical, rational, certain choice, so I choose one called “Generic Shampoo.” There are hundreds of beers too. All have competing claims and counter claims so I drink one called Beer. There are dozens of cars on the market each claiming to be the best, so I drive one called “Non-Detroit, Japanese, or European.” I reported for jury duty to a large courthouse with many rooms; I couldn’t decide which one to enter, so I stayed in the hall. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Ablaze’ Category
Plain Label Christianity and Hall Monitors
Monday, May 11th, 2009Don’t Even Bother to ask Your Doctor
Monday, March 16th, 2009Since the late 1990s prescription drug use has grown exponentially. In large part this has been due to the “ask your doctor if _____ is right for you” ad campaign. Doctors are hard pressed when you say, “I have these symptoms, and this drug says it treats them all.” (more…)
Have the flames been fanned or has Ablaze hit the fan?
Monday, February 9th, 2009
This is from the official annual report on the Fan into Flames funds found at www.fanintoflamelcms.org Resolution 1-09 adopted at the 2007 Synod convention required “a detailed annual report…to be published throughout the Synod.” The report is only 6 pages with large margins. Rather than a little blurb in mice type on page 23 of the February Lutheran Witness saying where the report could be found, the whole report could have been published. But then the faithful Lutherans supporting Ablaze! would witness where their money is really going. (more…)
Pope Pardons John Lennon
Monday, December 1st, 2008I wanted to title this “John Lennon’s Theology Better than Pope’s,” but I thought better of it. (more…)
In the Year 2525
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008Here we are at the end of our Church Year and at the beginning of a new one, and I’m thinking about the year 2525. (more…)
“Stupid Boy”
Monday, November 17th, 2008I must be stupid. I thought “Stupid Boy” was song by a girl when it fact it is sung by a guy. However, since that guy is Keith Urban, I can am excused for being justifiably confused, and believe it or not this confusion has something to do with what I’m writing. (more…)
Coach or First Class?
Monday, October 27th, 2008Psalm 56: 3, 4 reads: ”3. What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. 4. In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” The Baptist preacher C.H. Spurgeon said, verse 3 was the “coach” way to heaven while verse 4 was the “first class” way. Indeed, better to have faith prevent fear than to answer fear. A better theologian than I, which is to say a more Lutheran one, said, when I shared this Spurgeon wisdom, “Isn’t it glorious that we have a Lord who says both?” (more…)
Chasing Two Rabbits or Only Seeing One
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008Having “slandered” old African proverbs in another post, I thought I’d move on in the spirit of the recent Olympic Games to praise new Chinese fortune cookies. (more…)
Bonheoffer, Hitler, and Holocaust
Monday, July 21st, 2008The January Concordia Theological Quarterly has an article entitled “Themes of the Cruciform Life in Bonheoffer.” Bonheoffer was executed for his participation in the plot to assassinate the one man every man thinks ought to have been: Hitler.
Only Stories
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen the movie “Atonement” and want to, don’t read this. (more…)