By Brett Younger When I was growing up in Mississippi we sang, “We’ve a story to tell to the nations that shall turn their hearts to the right.” We had to go so “the darkness shall turn to dawning, and…
Felices son los estupidos
By Brett Younger “Once in your life before you die you ought to see a country where they don’t talk in English and don’t even want to.” Mrs. Gibbs’ recommendation in Our Town has stuck with me, so Carol and…
Learning how to eat the Lord’s Supper
By Brett Younger When I was 5 years old, we visited my grandmother’s church when they were having the Lord’s Supper. The worship service had nothing to do with Communion, but after the long invitation that closed the service, the…
Mixed dating and ill-fated love
By Brett Younger That phrase is about the only thing I remember our minister of youth saying. Tommy said it after the bell rang to signal the end of Sunday school. None of us wanted to admit that we did…
My speech to seminary graduates
By Brett Younger Once again, no seminary has chosen me to give the speech at their graduation service. My mother and I don’t get it. We both feel like I’m the perfect person to hand out the kind of inspirational…
Bracketology theology: Who would Jesus pick?
By Brett Younger NCAA college basketball tournament brackets are being emailed, faxed and taped on refrigerators. Many fans will make their picks without reflecting on the theological implications. Unfortunately, some with no real love for basketball are filling out brackets….
True Beliebers
By Brett Younger When Justin Bieber was arrested in January for drinking, driving and drag racing it was front-page news and a goldmine for late-night comics. Jay Leno opened with an announcement from President Obama: “America’s number one domestic terrorist…
Church without … well, people
By Brett Younger Anyone who knows someone at church with whom they would rather not share a hymnal, pass the peace, or high five while lifting holy hands knows the feeling. We love the church, but some of the people…
Practicing peace
By Brett Younger The tree in my living room, which went up the day after Thanksgiving, is starting to shed like Charlie Brown’s. I only enjoyed singing “Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)” the first time it came on…