Each teenager told their own story by their posture in the little church library chair that Sunday morning. […]
Conversation
The virtues and vices of humankind are infinitely interesting. Even more so, a single subject that is both […]
When someone mentions the church and politics in the same sentence, the picture most people flash on is a pastor standing in the pulpit, waving a red or blue flag, and telling you why it would make Jesus happy if you voted for a particular candidate or a specific proposition. It is an off-putting image for many, and accusations of preachers exceeding their authority or manipulating congregations often follow. To avoid this, then, churches swing all the way in the other direction, to where we do not want to talk about politics at all in the church. Keep church and state separate, as they ought to be. There is, however, a middle ground between littering the church lawn with campaign signs and making politics a taboo subject.
It seems we have forgotten that debate is a skill set. It is an art form that requires continuous refinement and strengthening, or it withers and dies. To be confronted by a dissenting opinion, to listen and understand an argument you don’t agree with, and to respond with a reasoned, factual rebuttal is a crucial part of any intellectual growth. Alas…the art of the rebuttal is slowly dying.
Graduation season is upon us, and with schools closed, ceremonies cancelled, and celebrations postponed, we’re seeing a lot of talk about the Class of 2020 online. This includes many celebrities and political figures pulling out their video cameras to deliver virtual graduation addresses. The thing that all compelling graduation speeches contain is an emphasis on what you (the student) are capable of accomplishing in this world. We are all foundationally good people with the ability to do amazing things if we put our minds to it. But, are we?
Your destination where the sacred and profane collide! The boys are back at it discussing, among other things; […]
By Tim Winterstein – Honestly, I can’t believe we’d never thought of it before. My brother, Jay, and […]
By Daniel van Voorhis – After years of angst, anger, and despair I think I may have stumbled […]
By Jeff Mallinson – I don’t know what it’s like to be a bat, using sonar to “see” […]
By Bob Hiller – As a person who finds himself plagued with a great deal of guilt, I […]