Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Originally attributed to Aristotle around 300 B.C., the phrase has been fleshed out and practiced over the years by the likes of Spinoza, Thoreau, and a slew of conspiracy theorists.…

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A New Pope

Rev. Robert Prevost (aka Pope Leo XIV) was elected pope yesterday in the fourth round of voting. He is the first Augustinian and the first American to be elected. I…

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Lust or Love

I remember when Pres. Jimmy Carter told Playboy magazine that he had lusted in his heart. The world was shocked! Here was this born-again, Bible study teaching Southern Baptist admitting…

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Nope – Not Funny

When Pope Benedict retired, I made an off-handed joke that the church should elect me pope. It was obviously a joke, and since I am clergy, somewhat relatable as such.…

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Just Say No to Nazis

I was the very part-time chaplain at Albright College – a United Methodist Church related college – from 1994 to 1999. Sometime around 1997, during a staff meeting, we had…

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Modern Idolatry

Every year during Holy Week we read about Pontius Pilate, the governor who put Jesus to death. Historically, Pilate is remembered as a terrible person, one who cared nothing about…

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Love, Not Fear

I’m not going to lie – religion can be scary. For as long as humans have wondered where thunder and lightning came from, we have been afraid of the Almighty.…

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Love, not Hate

Pope Francis has died, and the world is in mourning. We didn’t have to agree with everything he ever said or wrote to appreciate the massive impact he had on…

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Becoming the Church, Part 3

In the Gospel of Matthew, the end of the 25th chapter, Jesus does something shocking – He sends people who believe in Him to hell. It is a metaphorical story…

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