Category Archives: Pop Culture

We’re Not In Control (A Mustard Seed Musing)

My new year started out with a funeral, when I attended the service for a friend’s mother. Then, the news broke that longtime ESPN Sportscenter anchor Stuart Scott had died of cancer, a man who basically was my news anchor in college … Continue reading

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Something In The Water (Sunday’s Sermon Today- Luke 3)

In our scripture today from Luke 3, Jesus’ cousin John gets his marching orders before Jesus begins his public ministry. It says that the word of God called John from what he was doing – his private life – to … Continue reading

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The Good Lie: Substitionary Atonement (DVD Review)

In Huckleberry Finn, Huck lies to keep the ex-slave Jim from being discovered and recaptured. This is a “good lie,” one which doesn’t actually benefit Huck but which is committed selflessly to protect someone else. It’s the ‘hook’ or spin of … Continue reading

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Now What? Part I (Sunday’s Sermon Today- Luke 2)

It’s that time of year again for…. You thought I was going to say New Years Resolutions, right? Nope, I’m going with the NFL playoffs! My two favorite teams, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, are in the … Continue reading

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My [Definitive] Best Of 2014 (Movies, Books, & TV)

One friend challenged me to read fifty books this year; another asked me what my movie-to-book ratio was- said there was no way I actually read that many books with the movies I review regularly. So this year, I kept … Continue reading

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The Miracle On South Crater Road (Christmas Eve 2014)

The Christmas Eve sermon for Blandford UMC 2014.  I must admit it- I haven’t always enjoyed Christmas as much as I do now. The traditions, the preparation- sometimes I just wanted to get to the good stuff. But there’s always … Continue reading

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Why Aren’t There Easter Lights? (A Mustard Seed Musing)

Driving home one night last week, I passed a church that was wrapped in lights. Not lit up with a spotlight or a Living Nativity display. With actual, multicolored lights. It seems like even the church wanted to get into … Continue reading

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Unbroken: Surviving The Darkness (or, How Angelina Jolie Made A Movie About Faith) (Movie Review)

Louie Zamperini’s troubled childhood was saved by competitive running, a winding road that led to racing in the Olympics (Germany, 1936). But World War II tabled his running career, and after forty-seven days adrift at sea, internment in a Japanese prisoner of war … Continue reading

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Exodus Gods & Kings: Aiming For Greatness (Movie Review)

Exodus Gods & Kings was one of those ‘no-brainer’ films for me: it involved my favorite Old Testament figure and it was directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Prometheus, Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood, etc.) A dozen brave souls … Continue reading

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The Night Before Christmas Prep (Sunday’s Sermon Today)

I recently polled Facebook to see what people did to prepare for Christmas. “We donate to an organization and place the card on the Christmas tree and open it last.” “My wife and I will decorate our tree in the … Continue reading

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