It’s been over two years since the insurrection on January 6, 2021. A day sociologists and psychologists can point to as the natural outcome of pushing and shoving incendiary political rhetoric down the throat of people already on edge due to political demagoguery. Was this the dying gasp of a failing movement or the next … Continue reading
Have you ever noticed these days that someone else is to blame? No, seriously. When was the last time you heard a public figure take responsibility for their actions, sincerely apologize, and then totally change their behavior? Our cultural influence tends to want to justify or reason away the mistakes people make. This is especially … Continue reading
There is a fascinating socio-political-religious study to examine among Evangelicals before, during, and after Donald Trump’s presidency. Before the 45th Commander-in-chief, Evangelicals overwhelming indicated that the faith and character of political candidates mattered more than their policy stances. The poll, conducted by PRRI, found in just five years, white evangelicals have become much more likely … Continue reading
When my children were younger, I thoroughly enjoyed their age-appropriate puzzles. It was so easy to fit those pieces into the preexisting shape on the puzzle board. Now that they are getting older, we are attempting to tackle the 1,000 piece Star Wars puzzle sets. Occasionally, in the jumbled mess of a toddler’s playroom, you’d … Continue reading
By Luke Perrin A few weeks ago in my preaching class, our small group precept spent some time focusing on the story of the Golden Calf from the book of Exodus. It’s tale with vivid imagery, juxtaposing God with what the Israelites quite literally forged to be God. It’s a tale that has been used … Continue reading
By Rick McClatchy President-elect Biden called for healing from the partisanship that has characterized American culture in the recent years. Many, and I am among them, would wish for this to happen. There are many strategies that we can use to produce healing, but I would like to suggest one that might be helpful. We need to … Continue reading
By Andy Hale One of the greatest joys of cutting cable is not dealing with the Election year propaganda commercials. The othering, the deception and the scapegoating are just insane. And what’s the point of theses ads anyway? Do they really sway an undecided voter’s perspective? Moreover, if obvious misleading political ads convince you, how … Continue reading
By Andy Hale It is election week. The tension is palpable. The stress is high. The division is evident. Whatever happens on Tuesday night, and more likely over the coming weeks, Americans face a new chapter. The unease by which we look at this next chapter, no matter who is elected, is that we have … Continue reading
By Harold Tessendorf As the United States enters the final stages of the 2020 presidential election and as the summer of protests and counter-protests continue in cities and communities across the country, the following questions keep recurring to me: Is it possible for protestors and counter-protestors alike to express their political views in a non-violent and … Continue reading
By Andy Hale I’m not a fan of the Little League World Series. That might be a very unpopular statement. I’m not a fan of it in the same way that I’m not a fan of the Australian Open, the US Open, or Wimbledon. When it transpires each year, it means that every single hour … Continue reading