By Joel A. Hess –
“Keep your laws off my body!” This refrain can be heard at even the smallest pro-abortion protests. For some reason, it causes me to bristle every time. It doesn’t make sense. Repealing Roe v. Wade isn’t about the woman’s body; it’s about the scientifically proven, biologically inarguable human body that’s innocently living in the womb.
By Caleb Keith –
Whether you like or hate that Trump won the presidential election, it is undeniable that the liberal community went through a freak-out. Twitter and Facebook were ablaze; college campuses crumbled in tears and some real idiots started blocking freeways. Amidst false cries of racism and bigotry, some liberals acknowledged how they failed and revealed the larger plan for changing the world. It starts with Christianity. You see, Christianity possess a real threat to the political left, not because many Christians find themselves on the political right, but because Christians believe in objectivity when it comes to issues such as morality, science, and law. Modern liberalism relies on a false pluralism, which says that there is no true right or wrong, gender doesn’t exist, and random chance is god.
By Scott Keith –
What is a snowflake? Well, a snowflake is a single ice crystal which falls through the Earth’s atmosphere. Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity regions, such that individual snowflakes are almost always unique in structure. Snowflakes are exceptionally beautiful and unique flakes of ice. Though they are beautifully unique, their makeup also makes them exceptionally fragile.
By Bob Hiller –
Like you all, I’ve been sort of reeling in the wake of Tuesday’s election results. If I am being completely honest with you (and why would I have reason to be anything else), I truly don’t know how to feel about the president-elect. But like many of you, my blood pressure has risen and fallen at remarkable rates as I’ve scrolled through my social media feeds. I have a lot of personal and political concerns about our country and would have had them regardless of who got elected. In today’s blog, I don’t think I can contribute much to the conversation by way of political analysis or social criticism. Anything that I have to say on that front has likely been said already by people far more capable and intelligent than myself. However, as I read through my feed and reflect on my own personal actions and attitudes this past week, I do have a pastoral concern that is weighing on me.
By Paul Koch –
With all the media coverage focusing on the divisive politics of an incredible election, I fear we have lost sight of something incredibly positive—something that calls for genuine unity and praise of community. No, I’m not talking about the Church or the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; I’m talking about the new Starbucks cup.
By Graham Glover –
I’m shocked. Yesterday’s election results are simply stunning. Like many others, I never imagined that Donald Trump could win this election.
But he did. The American electorate has spoken and Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States.
Wow. Just wow.
By Joel A. Hess –
I was thinking about what to write today. Should I comment on Trump or Hillary? Should I explore the effects of Obama’s and certainly president Hilary’s legal gestapo on the Church? Should I grumble about American society’s fall from an aspiring civilization to blatant, unapologetic navel gazing? Oh, how I could fill this page with rantings.
By Graham Glover –
There is only one solution remaining. All others have failed. Democratic liberalism? No thank-you. Republican conservatism? Not a chance. Green Party environmentalism? Uh, no. Libertarianism of any kind? Never. Never. Never. My fellow Americans, we are down to our final hope. To save America, our country must embrace the cigar. I implore you to heed my call. The cigar’s time is now.
By Graham Glover –
My two favorite things to talk about are politics and religion. I am a Lutheran pastor, who years ago worked as a lobbyist, am currently working on finishing my PhD in Political Science, while serving my country as an Active Duty Chaplain in the US Army, with a wife that used to run state-level campaigns, and a father-in-law whose professional and political career has been devoted to public service. I suppose you could say such topics are part of my DNA, as they encompass so much of who I am and what I do.
By Caleb Keith – In the Western world, particularly the United States, the idea of a separation between […]
By Graham Glover – We’re all guilty. You. Me. All of us. We’re guilty of political idolatry. More […]
By Joel A Hess – Often times we are told during a presidential election that our future depends […]
By Graham Glover –
I love to debate. I mean, I love to really debate. I’m not talking about simple, quaint discussions concerning issues without much disagreement. I have in mind those passionate arguments and heated conversations in which tempers just might get a little out of control as each side tries to make their point.
By Graham Glover –
First, a confession: I’ve been politically depressed for about 8 months.
When 2016 began, my political psyche started going downhill. As the primary season rolled on, my political bad mood turned in to downright depression. I think it hit rock bottom after the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. For the past month I’ve wanted to shut down politically. Seriously, I thought I had reached the point of no return. My love of and faith in politics had all but worn out.
By Joel A Hess –
Dear parents, your kids will be catechized whether you like it or not.
For many churches, autumn marks the beginning of confirmation classes for young people. The season also witnesses many a pastor’s struggles to convince families to make instructing their children in the faith a top priority. Understandably, after spending long hours in school and extracurricular activities, even families that make Christian education a priority find little time to do it seriously.
By Caleb Keith –
Over the years I’ve come to enjoy the series of Jason Bourne movies. Things were no different last Thursday when I went to see the latest sequel. 2016’s Jason Bourne follows the same basic formula as every Bourne film. Step 1. Bourne comes out of hiding, Step 2. The CIA locates Bourne, Step 3. Bourne stops the corrupt CIA from some nefarious and internationally illegal scheme. While the movie was certainly predictable, the formula still works especially with the movies new technological focus.
By Graham Glover –
After listening to the last two weeks of political rhetoric, one might conclude that we are a divided nation. And that conclusion would be more than accurate.
Our nation is divided. Deeply divided.
The ideas, images, platforms, and personalities that the Republicans and Democrats offered in Cleveland and Philadelphia are as fundamentally different as any as I’ve witnessed in my lifetime.
By Graham Glover –
“You shall honor your father and mother that it may be well with you and you may live long upon the earth.”
I’ve given up trying to figure out how this year’s election will unfold. Every prediction of mine has been wrong. I still think Hillary wins in an Electoral College blowout, but now I’m even starting to doubt that prognosis. The Donald, despite himself, just might pull off the most improbable of campaigns.
By Scott Keith –
Today, we celebrate our independence. Today, we shoot fireworks into the air, dress in red, white, and blue, drink American beer, and try to remember what makes the 4th of July such a big deal. Today, I wonder why I’m no longer patriotic. Today, I look around me and wonder if those who are celebrating so intently even know why they celebrate. (Watch this at your own risk: FAIL – Americans Don’t Know Why We Celebrate 4th of July!) Today, I ask myself why I no longer feel free.
By Caleb Keith –
If you are in any way associated with Christian higher education, you are probably aware of California Senate Bill 1146 (SB1146). The bill threatens the way religious colleges operate in the state of California. To understand what the bill proposes, I read and re-read it several times last night. The essential function or purpose of SB1146 is to trap and punish religious higher education institutions who currently operate under a title IX discrimination exception. Under the current exemption, religious organizations can “discriminate” in their hiring and admissions practices so long as they are in line with their religious beliefs. For example, a Christian college may require all of its professors to be Christian and reserves the right not to employ non-Christians. Currently, schools which fall under title IX and certain California state exemptions can and often do receive federal and state aid.
