I grew up pretending sticks were little gunsI would point ’em at my dad and he’d get mad ’cause God forbid I hurt someoneI’d hurt anyone I couldAnyone who got too close, anyone who wouldn’t lookI was born into a one-hundred-year stormFoot of ice across Vermont, and in that dark, and in that frost a […]

Once upon a time there was a guy named Jonas. Jonas had a queer[1] upbringing. Jonas’ dad was a fella named Sufjan Stevens,[2] and his mom was a gal named Salem. Jonas didn’t see much of his ma growing up because she was incarcerated for multiple counts of identity theft and heroin. Sufjan raised Jonas […]

Sometimes people are pressured to apologize because someone else is really upset. Even if the really upset person is completely in the wrong, there is pressure on the innocent person to apologize. So, for example, let’s consider the relationship between David and Saul. Some people would say, “David needs to say he’s sorry, and make […]

Taylor Swift says, “Baby love, I think I’ve been a little too kind, Didn’t notice you walking all over my peace of mind -In the shoes I gave you as a present. …Puttin’ someone first only works when you’re in their top five, And by the way, I’m going out tonight – Best believe I’m […]

“Those whom you bless are blessed, and those whom you curse are cursed.” – people say this about The Menace (#renown #influence). “I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” – The Menace “Who are these men with you?” – God asks The Menace “These men are powerful politicians and […]

Imagine 2 sisters. Sister A is uptight, bossy, and bitter. Sister B is listening to a guy tell stories, and subsequently she is not helping with chores at the moment. Sister A demands that the storyteller command sister B to stop listening to stories and help with the chores. The storyteller says, “Sister B is […]

A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. Rock climbers refer to their projects at “Problems.” And that’s not a bad thing! They love working on their problems! It is the joy set before them. …In so so so so many ways Jesus is A.P., and ultimately He is A.G.P.T.H. If you honestly read the Gospel accounts, you […]

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in […]

A few weeks ago I visited a friend. It was an enjoyable visit. A few hours after the visit I suddenly found myself inexplicably wondering if I had said anything offensive. I analyzed the conversation and quickly determined that nothing was out of the ordinary. However, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that perhaps my […]

“As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time unless he eats, so it is with the inner man. What is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God. Not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our […]