Reclaiming The F Word

The Fruit of the Spirit?

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love - and they'll know we are Christians by our love." - One of the first songs I remember singing at Mass when I was a kid. 

I wonder if this song ever made it into the hymn book Sarah Palin grew up singing out of as she was growing up in that small Alaskan town. I wonder if her pastor is embarrassed. I know that, as a Christian, I was mortified on Wednesday night. And things didn't improve much yesterday as her partner on this ticket took the stage. 

Continue reading "The Fruit of the Spirit?" »

Well, actually, pretty much nothing was happening "here" for the past week or so except some sitting in the sun enjoying a little bit of vacation as summer came too quickly to an end. But boy o boy was there a lot happening out "there." 

Let's start with the wonderful: 

Now this is what I'm talking about. 

My post on The Audacity To Laugh was featured on the Faithful Democrats website earlier this week. Readers commented that I was maybe making a mistake by not taking the McCain campaign's underhanded, malicious, and all out nasty tactics seriously enough. One of the other writers at FD spelled out the evidence that McCain really IS trying to paint Obama as the Anti-Christ in scary detail. I responded that, even if that's true and the McCain campaign is serious, it just won't help to turn all self-righteous. Nobody likes a prude.

Well, it turns out that, by refusing to get his boxers in a bunch, Obama has allowed McCain's junior high-school advertising campaign to backfire.

Continue reading "LOL" »

So how do you explain "The One" ad the McCain campaign is running in which they make fun of Obama for being a pretend messiah? (Well, that's the best way to put it. At worst they accuse him of being a false messiah i.e., the anti-Christ. But I don't believe there's enough theological sophistication or biblical knowledge at work in that campaign to even be aware of this possible interpretation.)

Here's how I think it went down: An old, battle-scared, desperate staff let a group of emo college kids, wracked by cynicism and high on Red Bull, have the production studio for a night. 

And, if the truth be told, what emerged is a pretty funny - in a David Letterman kind of way - shtick. The honorable Mr. Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea?!? I laughed out loud, a snorting i'm-glad-i-wasn't-drinking-milk-out-of-a-carton-in-my-junior-high-school-cafeteria kind of laugh. 

Continue reading "The Audacity To Laugh" »

Posted at 11:18 PM in Politics, Religion, Television | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: mccain attack ads, obama and brittany, obama as moses

Even as Anglicans gathered in Lambeth these days try to bury issues that embarrass and divide them, Roman Catholics seem intent on digging them up. 

Approaching the final phase of declaring Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint, the Vatican has ordered his remains removed from the grave he shares with his long time, live-in, best "friend," Father Ambrose St John, and reinterred in a less --- umm --- unorthodox location.  

According to Jonathan Wynne-Jones, reporter for the UK paper, The Telegraph:

Continue reading "A Skeleton In The Closet?" »

Speaking of churches making the headlines: 

News reports today indicate the Tennessee church shooter targeted that congregation yesterday because of its liberal stance. Read the story here.

According to its website, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church "is a nonprofit organization and a community of people who meet to worship, learn, enjoy fellowship, and work together for social change."

The congregation has given sanctuary to political refugees, fed the homeless, supported equal rights for women & gays, founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and been on the front lines of the civil rights movement.

Two people died in the shooting.

According to police, the shooter, 58 year old Jim Adkisson, planned the shooting for a week. He fired his shotgun just 3 times into the crowded sanctuary before congregational members were able to tackle him to the ground but he brought 76 shells with him. This was going to be a blood bath.

Maybe most of our congregations stick to car washes and chicken dinners (see my earlier post) because actually following Jesus is so damn dangerous.

Headline: "Religion Briefs"

Source: The local newspaper from a nearby community

Biggest news: Chicken dinner, craft show, "gone fishin" Vacation Bible School

I'm not kidding. Those are the highlights - the biggest things happening in the churches in the southwest suburbs of Chicago these days - the only real "newsworthy" stuff.

Read the whole article yourself and then ask yourself how many Christians might be wondering why "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."

In fact, that's the title of a book by a guy named Vince Antonucci that might be worth a read. Here's an excerpt: 

Continue reading "Just Wondering" »

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

Something's Happening Here

Well, actually, pretty much nothing was happening "here" for the past week or so except some sitting in the sun enjoying a little bit of vacation as summer came too quickly to an end. But boy o boy was there a lot happening out "there." 

Let's start with the wonderful: 

LOL

Now this is what I'm talking about. 

My post on The Audacity To Laugh was featured on the Faithful Democrats website earlier this week. Readers commented that I was maybe making a mistake by not taking the McCain campaign's underhanded, malicious, and all out nasty tactics seriously enough. One of the other writers at FD spelled out the evidence that McCain really IS trying to paint Obama as the Anti-Christ in scary detail. I responded that, even if that's true and the McCain campaign is serious, it just won't help to turn all self-righteous. Nobody likes a prude.

Well, it turns out that, by refusing to get his boxers in a bunch, Obama has allowed McCain's junior high-school advertising campaign to backfire.

Continue reading "LOL" »

So how do you explain "The One" ad the McCain campaign is running in which they make fun of Obama for being a pretend messiah? (Well, that's the best way to put it. At worst they accuse him of being a false messiah i.e., the anti-Christ. But I don't believe there's enough theological sophistication or biblical knowledge at work in that campaign to even be aware of this possible interpretation.)

Here's how I think it went down: An old, battle-scared, desperate staff let a group of emo college kids, wracked by cynicism and high on Red Bull, have the production studio for a night. 

And, if the truth be told, what emerged is a pretty funny - in a David Letterman kind of way - shtick. The honorable Mr. Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea?!? I laughed out loud, a snorting i'm-glad-i-wasn't-drinking-milk-out-of-a-carton-in-my-junior-high-school-cafeteria kind of laugh. 

Continue reading "The Audacity To Laugh" »

Posted at 11:18 PM in Politics, Religion, Television | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: mccain attack ads, obama and brittany, obama as moses

Even as Anglicans gathered in Lambeth these days try to bury issues that embarrass and divide them, Roman Catholics seem intent on digging them up. 

Approaching the final phase of declaring Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint, the Vatican has ordered his remains removed from the grave he shares with his long time, live-in, best "friend," Father Ambrose St John, and reinterred in a less --- umm --- unorthodox location.  

According to Jonathan Wynne-Jones, reporter for the UK paper, The Telegraph:

Continue reading "A Skeleton In The Closet?" »

Speaking of churches making the headlines: 

News reports today indicate the Tennessee church shooter targeted that congregation yesterday because of its liberal stance. Read the story here.

According to its website, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church "is a nonprofit organization and a community of people who meet to worship, learn, enjoy fellowship, and work together for social change."

The congregation has given sanctuary to political refugees, fed the homeless, supported equal rights for women & gays, founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and been on the front lines of the civil rights movement.

Two people died in the shooting.

According to police, the shooter, 58 year old Jim Adkisson, planned the shooting for a week. He fired his shotgun just 3 times into the crowded sanctuary before congregational members were able to tackle him to the ground but he brought 76 shells with him. This was going to be a blood bath.

Maybe most of our congregations stick to car washes and chicken dinners (see my earlier post) because actually following Jesus is so damn dangerous.

Headline: "Religion Briefs"

Source: The local newspaper from a nearby community

Biggest news: Chicken dinner, craft show, "gone fishin" Vacation Bible School

I'm not kidding. Those are the highlights - the biggest things happening in the churches in the southwest suburbs of Chicago these days - the only real "newsworthy" stuff.

Read the whole article yourself and then ask yourself how many Christians might be wondering why "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."

In fact, that's the title of a book by a guy named Vince Antonucci that might be worth a read. Here's an excerpt: 

Continue reading "Just Wondering" »

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

The Audacity To Laugh

So how do you explain "The One" ad the McCain campaign is running in which they make fun of Obama for being a pretend messiah? (Well, that's the best way to put it. At worst they accuse him of being a false messiah i.e., the anti-Christ. But I don't believe there's enough theological sophistication or biblical knowledge at work in that campaign to even be aware of this possible interpretation.)

Here's how I think it went down: An old, battle-scared, desperate staff let a group of emo college kids, wracked by cynicism and high on Red Bull, have the production studio for a night. 

And, if the truth be told, what emerged is a pretty funny - in a David Letterman kind of way - shtick. The honorable Mr. Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea?!? I laughed out loud, a snorting i'm-glad-i-wasn't-drinking-milk-out-of-a-carton-in-my-junior-high-school-cafeteria kind of laugh. 

Continue reading "The Audacity To Laugh" »

Posted at 11:18 PM in Politics, Religion, Television | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: mccain attack ads, obama and brittany, obama as moses

Even as Anglicans gathered in Lambeth these days try to bury issues that embarrass and divide them, Roman Catholics seem intent on digging them up. 

Approaching the final phase of declaring Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint, the Vatican has ordered his remains removed from the grave he shares with his long time, live-in, best "friend," Father Ambrose St John, and reinterred in a less --- umm --- unorthodox location.  

According to Jonathan Wynne-Jones, reporter for the UK paper, The Telegraph:

Continue reading "A Skeleton In The Closet?" »

Speaking of churches making the headlines: 

News reports today indicate the Tennessee church shooter targeted that congregation yesterday because of its liberal stance. Read the story here.

According to its website, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church "is a nonprofit organization and a community of people who meet to worship, learn, enjoy fellowship, and work together for social change."

The congregation has given sanctuary to political refugees, fed the homeless, supported equal rights for women & gays, founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and been on the front lines of the civil rights movement.

Two people died in the shooting.

According to police, the shooter, 58 year old Jim Adkisson, planned the shooting for a week. He fired his shotgun just 3 times into the crowded sanctuary before congregational members were able to tackle him to the ground but he brought 76 shells with him. This was going to be a blood bath.

Maybe most of our congregations stick to car washes and chicken dinners (see my earlier post) because actually following Jesus is so damn dangerous.

Headline: "Religion Briefs"

Source: The local newspaper from a nearby community

Biggest news: Chicken dinner, craft show, "gone fishin" Vacation Bible School

I'm not kidding. Those are the highlights - the biggest things happening in the churches in the southwest suburbs of Chicago these days - the only real "newsworthy" stuff.

Read the whole article yourself and then ask yourself how many Christians might be wondering why "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."

In fact, that's the title of a book by a guy named Vince Antonucci that might be worth a read. Here's an excerpt: 

Continue reading "Just Wondering" »

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

A Skeleton In The Closet?

Even as Anglicans gathered in Lambeth these days try to bury issues that embarrass and divide them, Roman Catholics seem intent on digging them up. 

Approaching the final phase of declaring Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint, the Vatican has ordered his remains removed from the grave he shares with his long time, live-in, best "friend," Father Ambrose St John, and reinterred in a less --- umm --- unorthodox location.  

According to Jonathan Wynne-Jones, reporter for the UK paper, The Telegraph:

Continue reading "A Skeleton In The Closet?" »

Speaking of churches making the headlines: 

News reports today indicate the Tennessee church shooter targeted that congregation yesterday because of its liberal stance. Read the story here.

According to its website, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church "is a nonprofit organization and a community of people who meet to worship, learn, enjoy fellowship, and work together for social change."

The congregation has given sanctuary to political refugees, fed the homeless, supported equal rights for women & gays, founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and been on the front lines of the civil rights movement.

Two people died in the shooting.

According to police, the shooter, 58 year old Jim Adkisson, planned the shooting for a week. He fired his shotgun just 3 times into the crowded sanctuary before congregational members were able to tackle him to the ground but he brought 76 shells with him. This was going to be a blood bath.

Maybe most of our congregations stick to car washes and chicken dinners (see my earlier post) because actually following Jesus is so damn dangerous.

Headline: "Religion Briefs"

Source: The local newspaper from a nearby community

Biggest news: Chicken dinner, craft show, "gone fishin" Vacation Bible School

I'm not kidding. Those are the highlights - the biggest things happening in the churches in the southwest suburbs of Chicago these days - the only real "newsworthy" stuff.

Read the whole article yourself and then ask yourself how many Christians might be wondering why "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."

In fact, that's the title of a book by a guy named Vince Antonucci that might be worth a read. Here's an excerpt: 

Continue reading "Just Wondering" »

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

Making Headlines

Speaking of churches making the headlines: 

News reports today indicate the Tennessee church shooter targeted that congregation yesterday because of its liberal stance. Read the story here.

According to its website, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church "is a nonprofit organization and a community of people who meet to worship, learn, enjoy fellowship, and work together for social change."

The congregation has given sanctuary to political refugees, fed the homeless, supported equal rights for women & gays, founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and been on the front lines of the civil rights movement.

Two people died in the shooting.

According to police, the shooter, 58 year old Jim Adkisson, planned the shooting for a week. He fired his shotgun just 3 times into the crowded sanctuary before congregational members were able to tackle him to the ground but he brought 76 shells with him. This was going to be a blood bath.

Maybe most of our congregations stick to car washes and chicken dinners (see my earlier post) because actually following Jesus is so damn dangerous.

Just Wondering

Headline: "Religion Briefs"

Source: The local newspaper from a nearby community

Biggest news: Chicken dinner, craft show, "gone fishin" Vacation Bible School

I'm not kidding. Those are the highlights - the biggest things happening in the churches in the southwest suburbs of Chicago these days - the only real "newsworthy" stuff.

Read the whole article yourself and then ask yourself how many Christians might be wondering why "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."

In fact, that's the title of a book by a guy named Vince Antonucci that might be worth a read. Here's an excerpt: 

Continue reading "Just Wondering" »

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

What In Hell?

Most of the people I know think the economy is in the crapper. We've got a war that won't end, a social safety net with holes in it bigger than elephants (ironic allusion intended), banks on the brink, polar ice caps turning to slush...but what we're apparently really worried about is...what does Barack Obama think about HELL.

Continue reading "What In Hell?" »

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

Newsworthy

Like lots of others today, I'm troubled by the trouble city newspapers are in. Here in Chicago, the Tribune has just announced deep staff cuts - including way too many among reporters - and yet another turnover at the top. The Sun-Times has been going through similar turmoil for some time. I get two papers delivered and read another half a dozen or more online every day. On her way out, Trib editor Anne Marie Lipinski said, "Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good."

I don't think we realize what we stand to lose.

Continue reading "Newsworthy" »

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »

Damn Walls

"I've often thought of my ministry as a wedge plowing a field that is hard, leaving behind something softer that's ready for new life." Those are the words of Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, the first female dean of an Anglican cathedral. May it be new life that emerges as the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, voted yesterday to open the doors to women bishops for the first time. 

Huh? 

Yes, that's right. With all the hoopla over gays in the Anglican communion, lots of us missed the whole thing about how women are still a problem for our worldwide Episcopal brothers & sisters (and lots of other Christians, for that matter). 

Traditionalists around the world, of course, are predicting doom and gloom.

Continue reading "Damn Walls" »