When Lutherans Reconcile
While browsing my Google Reader’s recommendations page, I came across one Nadia Bolz-Weber, pastor and author of the blog Sarcastic Lutheran. At first I was like, “Okay, tattooed female Lutheran pastor . . . interesting.” But the more I read, the more I realized that she has some amazing insights into the Scriptures. One blog entry that got my attention was about a certain Lutheran radio talk show host who would often rip her sermons to shreds on air (figuratively speaking, of course). Well, thanks to a strange twist of fate, the two ended up have a conversation. Excerpt: Yet God paid this very little attention yesterday when, despite us both, my LCMS detractor – slash – conservative Christian radio host and I had a 30 minute long...
That's What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown
I’m man enough to admit that I still get a little choked up at the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It’s just as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. Like many of us, Charlie Brown doesn’t understand what Christmas is about, since he sees so much commercialism surround the holiday. He tries to get in the spirit by directed the annual Christmas play, but no one will listen. Then he decides what they need is a Christmas tree. Unfortunately the only real tree Charlie Brown and Linus can find at the lot is a pathetic little stick with a few pine needles on it. But that doesn’t stop Charlie Brown, because he finally found something real. But then when he brings the little tree back to his friends, they all laugh at him. ...
The Power of Controversy
Looking back at why I started writing this blog and how much I enjoyed conversing (and maybe to some degree arguing) about the little, almost insignificant, aspects of Christianity, I now realize that the majority of spiritual struggles I face is not between me and my brothers on these finite details. The main struggle is internal. It is between my spirit and my flesh, my head and my heart, my conscience and my will. I can spend my time discussing my beliefs on the 5% of our differing beliefs (and don’t get me wrong controversy definitely yields more of a response then conviction), but I think that controversy doesn’t help to much. It tends to make me switch off heart knowledge and turn on head knowledge. To be witty and right over being honest. Which...