By Joel A. Hess - We need more Josephs! You don’t hear much about Joseph. He just disappears after the birth of our Lord. He reappears for a moment when Jesus scares his parents by staying in His real Father’s house, but then he is gone again. We call him Saint Joseph, but what did … Continue reading Happy Father’s Day! It’s OK to be a Joseph
By Joel A. Hess - Il n'y a qu'un problème philosophique vraiment sérieux : c'est le suicide - Albert Camus It would seem that we have witnessed more celebrity suicides than ever, though I don’t know if that’s true. It would seem that the celebrity world is only predisposed to suicide as the skin begins … Continue reading C’est le suicide: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
By Joel A. Hess - The American dollar is the ugliest of all currencies. As a kid I was always infatuated with the different paper monies I would come across on my travels and would wonder why ours is so blah. Then I learned how paper money works. It’s just paper! In and of itself, … Continue reading God’s Ugly, Ordinary Church
By Joel A. Hess - I still remember when the Rubik’s cube came out and had everyone puzzled for at least a little while. Then one day at recess when I was in third grade, everyone marveled at a young genius named Todd. Todd had cracked the cube. We gathered around him near the monkey … Continue reading Is your life like a Rubik’s cube?
By Joel A. Hess - Millions of people watched from afar on cable, internet, and the streets. They stood in awe at beautiful ceremony though they did not know the groom or bride. They weren’t really invited to attend. It was especially interesting as the royal groom took on a foreign bride, a crazy American … Continue reading A Royal Wedding You’ll Be In
By Joel A. Hess - Since the romantics first rebelled against the industrialism and the city in the 18th and 19th centuries, western civilization has been taught that nature is serene, peaceful, and self healing. Furthermore, if man would stop going “against” it, he would enjoy its peace. One of the most famous romantics and a … Continue reading Nature is not your Friend
By Joel A. Hess - This past Sunday, our church celebrated the confirmation of a bunch of our kids, my son included. Poor kids. What are we doing? Thirteen and fourteen year olds promising to be upstanding members, givers, and receivers in the Church, to hold to the teachings of the Church according to the Small Catechism, even … Continue reading A Better Confirmation Vow
