In the 1990s, my friends on the far left were upset that I favored impeaching and convicting President Bill Clinton for lying under oath. When Democrats on social media were lauding Garth Brooks’ singing of “Amazing Grace” at President Joe…
Why inerrancy is a threat to democracy
If 200,000 Democrats met at the National Mall three weeks before a presidential election, erected an altar and started smashing it while yelling about the GOP candidate getting thrown from a tower, trampled by horses, eaten by dogs and turned…
Running an operation
It’s not a political campaign the Republican Party is running; it’s an operation, a plan to put their candidate into office regardless of the vote. At least that’s what it looks like to me. The clues are many. As one…
‘The Ellinwood Caper’ and the spirit of nostalgic hometown Halloweens
Not too long ago, while perusing a local bookstore, I noticed a collection of macabre literature brought out just in time for All Hallows Eve. I stumbled upon a book titled Haunted Heartland. Perhaps you can imagine my surprise when…
Dancing on my mother’s grave
Several months ago, while perusing the aisles of Home Goods, I noticed a discreet display of party items for El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, observed annually on Nov. 2. If Michael’s can haul out the…
Leading by preaching
Our role as leaders of congregations is most visible when we stand up to preach. Whenever we step into the pulpit, we are “out in front” — thus fulfilling the shorthand definition of a leader. On any given Sunday, we…
Jesus at the MAGA rally
Several weeks ago, I had a strange and troubling dream. In my dream, I attended a massive rally. Thousands of people flocked to the stadium to hear their hero speak. As throngs of people entered the stadium, Jesus quietly entered…
Jesus, politics and the purple church
Once upon a time, if anyone used the phrase “purple church,” they might well have been referring to the sanctuary during Advent and Lent; the church’s two annual liturgical waiting rooms, sacred seasons when altars and pastors are draped and…
Matt Queen, we hardly knew ye
There’s an old Irish drinking song that was repopularized in the 1960s about a young soldier who ran off to South Asia to join the British armies fighting the Kandian War in modern day Sri Lanka. The lyrics capture the…
Time management, soul management
I hope reading this column is a good use of your time, and I hope writing this column was a good use of my time, because you and I waste a lot of time. We turn on the TV out…
Undecided voters, time has run out
Over the next handful of days, millions of thoughtful and responsible people will go to the polls to cast ballots for many things, among them electing the president of the United States. I wish there had been two viable and…
This is how to defeat Trump’s fascist movement
It is only a matter of time before Donald Trump’s hateful fascist rhetoric incites some of his followers to engage in violence against immigrants, women, people of color, LGBTQ people, members of the news media, election officials and others who…