A few times I have used the Boy Scout Law, (“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”) as a good list of desirable traits for one to develop. Somewhere this week I saw something about a list of virtues, Googled that, and found that The Catholic […]
A pillar of Protestant theology is Sola Scriptura which means that “Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian.” That quote comes from this web site which seems to present a balanced view of the subject and some of the controversy surrounding it. With a unifying common principle such as Sola […]
I wonder what the implication is when someone says they are doing volunteer work or donating money or helping someone directly because they want to “give back.” Is the implication that they have taken something and want to give back some of it or all of it or is it that they have been given […]
Famous and not so famous quotes about faith, doubt, and certainty abound, but I believe this phrase which came to my mind while I was on a bicycle ride last evening may be original. Faith and doubt walk hand in hand. Faith and certainty are perfect strangers and have no need of each other. If not, I apologize […]
I often recall seemingly random acts of selfishness when I reflect back on my life. It’s unfortunate, but true. Oh, there is much to rejoice about and be thankful for and I’ve been a good guy from time to time, but there are those troublesome bad things, the unkind word, the ethical mistake, the moment […]
OK, I’m a grouch, but I just don’t like the general idea of pride. It is so self-focused. It seems to me that a much more desirable response to good things is thankfulness. It’s related to that self esteem movement that has become so popular, and I don’t like self esteem either. (Since the implication […]
One of the courses I took at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary was Dr. Daryl (Tony) Everett’s Conflict In The Church. It might have been better titled Conflict in the Congregation beause it was designed for fourth year Master of Divinity students getting ready for their first pastoral assignments. Dr. Everett has assisted many congregations during difficult and stressful times […]
Congaree River looking north from the Blossom Street Bridge, Columbia, SC. We live at the east end of the Gervais Street Bridge seen in the distance. Rivers have always had an emotional hold on me. Maybe it started when I was a kid in an old wooden boat on river shoals during the night with my […]
In the fall of 2003, I took Dr. Monte Luker’s course in Old Testament Theology at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. The notebook full of my notes and work from the course is lined up with about twenty similar compilations on a shelf above my desk. I have found it useful once in a while to […]
A few months ago I attended a funeral at a suburban Presbyterian Church and noticed something in their printed order of worship which I found to be very funny and thought provoking. In their bulletin, the instruction, “Stand,” is always followed by, “as you are able.” Now, I am completely used to seeing those same […]