This Side of the Pulpit | This Side of the Pulpit

Saying “No”, Hook-Ups and Literature

April 27th, 2011 | 1 Comment

Here is a teaser from an excellent article about the “hook-up” culture and pornography’s destructive nature. The article may be found here. Nevertheless, the advent of the so-called hook-up culture has fostered expectations among young men that encounters with co-eds naturally lead to no-strings-attached sex. Sex is not preceded by an altar, commitment, “I love you”, or even a decent conversation. In a hook-up culture anonymous sex is not a scandal but, it would seem, the ideal, for when sex is depersonalized, it cannot lead to the complications associated with affection, vulnerability, and the desire to sacrifice for the good of the other person. On a related note, the biggest problem I had with the Twilight series was Jacob’s pursuit of Bella even after she … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World, Theology, Writing&Books

Death Cabs and Death Songs

March 3rd, 2011 | 5 Comments

I think it was on the radio where someone called in and asked if a certain song was appropriate to play at their wedding. Apart from the obvious problem of asking this on the radio and not with the minister whose church they are using, the lyrics speak for themselves. Here they are: Love of mine some day you will die But I’ll be close behind I’ll follow you into the dark No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white Just our hands clasped so tight Waiting for the hint of a spark If Heaven and Hell decide That they both are satisfied Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs If there’s no one beside you When your soul embarks Then I’ll follow you into the dark In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles bruised by a lady … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World, Theology

Jesus Said There Would Be Days Like This

March 2nd, 2011 | Add a Comment

A Christian couple opposed to homosexuality have lost a battle over their right to become foster carers. Eunice and Owen Johns, 62 and 65, from Derby, said the city council did not want them to look after children because of their traditional views. The pair, who are Pentecostal Christians, say they were “doomed not to be approved”. The High Court ruled that laws protecting people from sexual discrimination should take precedence. (read more here) No doubt you’ll hear more about this from other places. If you’re into AFA and OneNewsNow and Pat Robertson it will be histironic, outrage and reationary garbage. For my part, I’m just somewhat sad. The United Kingdom was a Christian nation, where the head of state was also head of the (Christian) Church of England. Obviously that is no … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World, Theology

Anti-christian Vandalism in England

December 10th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Overnight barbarians vandalized the Holy Thorn Tree at Glastonberry Tor in England. If you know your English Christian history–or Arthurian Legends–then you know this is the tree Joseph of Arimathea planted 2000 years ago. Regardless, it’s an ancient tree with long historical roots and cultural significance to Christians in England. It looked like this before: Now it looks like this: The story from The Daily Mail online is here. … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World, Theology

Eucharisto

October 29th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Perhaps the greatest single failure in the Christian life is the refusal to give thanks. Thanks that is dependent upon success or the fulfillment and pleasure of our own will is indeed thanksgiving – but is weak indeed. It is easy to give thanks for our pleasures and self-satisfactions (though even then we often forget to give thanks). Fr. Stephen Freeman (source) You could say that thanksgiving to God in every circumstance is the mark of a Christian; it is our daily activity, the source of our joy, the fountain from which our hearts beat and our days become something more than rote and given. They become life and joy and full. It is absurd and appears to be the height of foolishness to give thanks for the cancer, … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World

VBS: It’s what It Is

August 4th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Some pastors despair over Vacation Bible School. They look at the lessons being offered and see very shallow re-tellings of the Biblical accounts, the cute crafts that don’t seem to mean much, the songs that are simplistic and seem completely opposite of what we sing on Sundays and wonder what we are doing with the kids. VBS runs much smoother when expectations are lowered. When your priorities are giving the children a safe environment, sharing the love of Christ with them in word and example, introducing them to stories from Scripture and telling them the Good News of Jesus Christ, and giving the children a few hours of fun at church, VBS works. The objection to this is that if you make it fun and give them good experiences, children will … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World

Let’s Hope it Works

May 19th, 2010 | 1 Comment

In reference to the Orwellian British Government I referenced in a sermon recently, the NY Times writes that they may be rolling themselves back from the precipice of fascism: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/world/europe/20britain.html … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World

My Thoughts on a Funeral

May 13th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Pastor Eric Brown attended a non-Lutheran funeral yesterday, and by coincidence, I attended a different non-Lutheran funeral. He posted his thoughts and beat me to the punch. First I’ll post mine, then quote his. The funeral was led by a hospice chaplain. The majority of the service was his sermon, which I found to be well delivered and spot-on for the hearers and situation. I couldn’t have done a better job in addressing such a diverse crowd of believers and unbelievers–and probably would have done a worse job. While he addressed many things in the deceased life, he didn’t eulogize her, and the majority of his sermon was based on Psalm 23. He made some points about shepherding that I had never heard before, and frankly, found suspicious. But the most … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World

Scary Stuff at the Tea Party

April 27th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Completely quoting re-posting from Christopher Orr: According to John at Notes from a Common-place Book, the Tea Party group Grassroots America – We the People recently held an event headlined by Glenn Beck. At this event he asked: “Do you believe this is God’s land?”; “Do you believe our Constitution was divinely inspired?”; and he also noted that “the American flag is a symbol of God’s Freedom.” Theologically, not just politically, no. No. Read the comments there too. … Read entire article »

Filed under: The World, Theology