Published in Perceive More!·PinnedMember-onlyI Love My Country. But Let’s Not Kid Ourselves.America is a great country. But the US Capitol Insurrection is part of a long, dark, racial history in the United States. — “This isn’t who we are.” President-elect Joe Biden said these words in the aftermath of Wednesday’s assault on the US Capitol. Politicians like to say this during events like this. I believe that President-elect Biden and others who use that phrase mean nothing but good. …Racism5 min readRacism5 min read
2 days agoMember-onlyFeet FirstWhy Are We So Uncomfortable with Foot washing? — For the last decade or so, I’ve been obsessed with my feet. Lest you think that this is some odd essay on fetishes, I’m talking about having neuropathy. For several years, I’ve dealt with nerve pain in my feet. I’ve done a number of things to relieve the pain, from…Church7 min readChurch7 min read
Mar 18Member-onlyLet’s Pour One Out for Discount Department StoresWhy we should mourn the passing of this once ubiquitous retail category. — There’s a picture of my Dad from the mid-1970s where he is standing at the counter of a store. I don’t know who took it, but since it was a Polaroid and those were the going camera at the time, my guess it was a store clerk. …Retail5 min readRetail5 min read
Mar 5Fox News, Fan Service and FaithfulnessThe conservative cable news channel was tested and found wanting. What about us? — I’ve really been enjoying the third season of Star Trek: Picard, a series that is sort of a sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Set some 30 years after the original series, Jean Luc Picard, the captain of the USS Enterprise in the Next Generation. The first two seasons…News5 min readNews5 min read
Mar 4Member-onlyWhat’s the Good WordWhy the Benediction Matters. — Being the pastor of a small congregation, I’ve been tasked with putting together the Sunday bulletin. I will look at various websites that have liturgies available for use and I usually can find the call to worship, the invocation, and the confession. …Religion4 min readReligion4 min read
Mar 2Member-onlyThese Are Not the Evangelicals You Are Looking ForWhite Evangelicals May Not Be the Real Story. — White evangelical. Ever since Donald Trump’s surprise win in 2016, I’ve heard that phrase over and overused by journalists, academics, pastors, writers, and others. …Evangelicals7 min readEvangelicals7 min read
Feb 11Member-onlyWeekly Checkin: The Devil and Mr. SantosWhy George Santos’ Lies Matter. — State Of The Union1 min readState Of The Union1 min read
Feb 11Member-onlyWeekly Checkin: Bearing Christ’s Light After The Tragedy in MemphisA Pastor Looks at the death of Tyre Nichols, the Police and how people of faith should respond. — Tyre Nichols cried for his mother as he was being beaten by Memphis police a few hundred yards from home. How do followers of Jesus respond? We respond by remembering that Jesus calls us bearers of his light in the world. Note: The correct name of the pastor is Bob…Tyre Nichols1 min readTyre Nichols1 min read
Jan 24Member-onlyGhost of a ChanceIt seems pointless to Hope the GOP can change from its current trajectory. But what other choice is there? — In the aftermath of the 2012 election where Barak Obama was reelected over Mitt Romney, leaders within the GOP came up with a document to explain why the party lost and what it needed to do going forward. The Autopsy was a thorough understanding of the situation, urging the party…Politics8 min readPolitics8 min read
Jan 4Member-onlyOnly Love Can Rebuild the GOPA Post-Trump Republican Party Needs People Who Care About the Party to lead it after the horror of Donald Trump. — I’ve always been a bit of a squish when it comes to being on the center right. …Republican Party9 min readRepublican Party9 min read