All Posts Tagged With: "church"
When We Are Filled With Hate And Fear
What are the common denominators with people who are filled with hate and fear? What are the symptoms? What are their political views? What is wrong with them??? They were abused as children. That is the one common feature of the hateful and fearful. Their parents tried to beat them into respectful adults. Or the […]
27Dec2017 | Thomas Franklin | 1 comment | Continued
Oh Lord Won’t You Give Me?
I loved and love Janis Joplin. I like the song she sang, Mercedes Benz, because it reminds me of a Church I attended with a friend when I was about 16. It was located in South St. Joseph. There was a neon sign outside proclaiming PENTECOSTAL SOMETHING OR OTHER CHURCH. A bright white two story […]
31Jul2016 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Founding Fathers Commentary on Religion
“If I could conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded, that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.” – George […]
18Mar2014 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Founding Fathers Commentary on Religion | Continued
Crude Jesus, Christmas, Church Jokes
JESUS: Jesus walks into a hotel. He hands the room clerk three nails and says, “Can you put me up for the night? I don’t care who you are, get back in the boat and help us row. I don’t care who you are, drop that cross one more time and you are out of […]
23Jun2013 | Gary Clark | Comments Off on Crude Jesus, Christmas, Church Jokes | Continued
Bad Religion
Religion tends to be about the rules, about the law. Spirituality tends to deal in Grace and Mercy and personal progression. Religion, balanced with grace, mercy, and progress, can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth.
17Apr2012 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Good Children Vs Insurrectionists
My husband and I were discussing our children the other day and how they behave or not during church. Our 18-month-old prefers to wander the pews rather than sit quietly on my lap, and when the nursery is closed, it can be quite difficult to “make her behave.” First of all, let me comment on […]
26Apr2010 | Dawn | Comments Off on Good Children Vs Insurrectionists | Continued
Forgiving The Priest
Is it possible? When a Priest is charged with being the father of his parish, of being the spiritual leader of the congregation, when the Priest has charge over our children, and then violates every tenant of his charge – that Priest must suffer some consequences. But does that mean eternal damnation? Does that mean […]
26Mar2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Comcast Buys Out the New Media Christian Paradigm
Scratch Christianity, insert capitalism. What is the driving ideology – and how do ideologies conflict. Here is the basic problem with identifying with a specific ideology: you have to accept the consequences of your ideology. I have several examples, and I want to take a look at Comcast and the media empires, but I think […]
8Dec2009 | bryan | Comments Off on Comcast Buys Out the New Media Christian Paradigm | Continued
A United Methodist Perspective
I am a United Methodist. My wife and I joined a United Methodist church in Sugar Land, Texas before moving to Nashville, TN, and when we moved to Iowa, we transferred our membership to a church that was just down the street from our house. We went through the ceremony for becoming a member of […]
16Feb2009 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Jesus: Radical Rabbi or Practical Mystic?
There is a lot of talk these days about being “spiritual” but not being “religious.” We often hear, “I see myself as a spiritual person, but not as a religious person.” This is the mantra of the children of the counter cultural movement of alternative spirituality. It is so much the mantra of a movement that it is no longer counter cultural, but represents the mainstream American thought process.
19Jan2009 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Surnames are Sacred Cows
In 1986 a friend of mine was named the new Abbot of a Benedictine Monastery. I was proud to just be a friend at the ceremonial induction. The trappings of a basilica, with sunlight filtered through ornate stained glass windows, candles burning with gentle flames, rows of black robed monks walking in cadence to the […]
12Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Surnames are Sacred Cows | Continued
Thoughts on Misunderstanding Charity
The holiday season is upon us, and everyone is geared up for the giving season. I think that a conversation on the merits of charity is essential at this stage of the game. I read an article on Trying To Follow a while back about clothing drives. It has some great fodder for conversation. In […]
12Dec2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Thoughts on Misunderstanding Charity | Continued
Do What You Do On Purpose
‘I have talked and written at length in articles for this magazine about the lifestyle choices that my wife and I have made for our family, but I feel it would be appropriate to spend some time on why we make those choices. Having a purpose in your decision is as important as the decision […]
10Dec2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
The Worst Church Marquees and Why They Are So Wrong
This has been a burr in my saddle for years. Longer than that, I guess. Before I made the switch to regular church attendance, the oh-so-clever church marquees were a beacon of tacky religion that always made me wonder why people would gather in a place like that. Now, they are just embarrassing and they […]
7Dec2008 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them?
By David Waters As everyone knows by now, the Obamas are between church homes. That’s a difficult place for any churchgoing family, but especially one that has become the focus of the fears and hopes of the entire world. Finding a new church won’t get any easier now that they’re moving into the White House. […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them? | Continued
The Yearn for Normalcy
We really don’t know what ‘normal’ is – but all of us want it. We want safety and security. We want to own our home, raise our children, attend school plays and athletic events. We want proper health care for our family. We want to go to work and receive a decent pay check. We […]
25Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Obama / McCain – with Rick Warren, 8-16-2006
Pastor Rick Warren, the phenomenon of modern Christianity that projects a sense of reasonableness, is hosting an interview with both Barack Obama and John McCain. This is an exciting time because a presumably reasonable man – thick with faith – is going to challenge Obama and McCain on a variety of issues. Thefiresidepost.com will be […]
17Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Pope in America
Bill Maher is on a role in this video. Maher directly takes the Pope and the Catholic Church to task. Referring to Pope Benedict as John Paul’s Dick Cheney, Maher hits this nail right on the head. The value of comedic interpretation of current events is never more evident than it is in this monologue […]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Pope in America | Continued
Reporting on Reverend Wright – and Getting it Wrong
It is difficult to grapple with the complexities of faith and politics, and it is disheartening when the two meet like runaway trains in the night while the media circles above like a vulture. Our society is increasingly weary of the cult style theology of the conservative Christian political movement, and rightfully so. I find […]
18Mar2008 | bryan | 5 comments | Continued
Make Money, For Christ’s Sake
Dad, We have written much here about faith and action, lifestyle and religion. I want to revisit the conversation about the Prosperity Gospel. I spent much of my formative years rolling my eyes at the public face of Christianity. The public face of religion in general, as a matter of fact. In the last five […]
26Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Make Money, For Christ’s Sake | Continued
Violations of our Constitution – Revolution
Son, We have written a number of times about our Founding Fathers, and their intent for this great country. Today finds our country again at the threshold of revolution. But American Revolution has come to mean that we have an election and the people decide in a peaceful manner what direction the country should take. […]
18Jan2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
actions and impact
Dad, I have been considering the impact that our words have on others, both in conversation and in this online magazine, and trying to figure out how much we should evaluate our words and actions out of respect for others. I have been attending the School for Lay Ministries with the Methodist Church for a […]
8Jan2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
2008 Resolutions to save money
Son, Budget, budget, budget. Plan, plan, plan. Then execute the planned budget with resolve. There are some general rules – and some specifics. For someone with no plan – plan. For someone with a plan, expand the plan. But why save – what is the purpose? There are many reasons – retirement, security, education of […]
1Jan2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Catholics Saved Christianity
Son, Without the Roman Catholic Church there would be no Christianity. The Catholic Church has been criticized for about 2000 years. This probably began when Jesus chose to expose himself to a woman. Perhaps I should rephrase that statement. When bodily resurrected after death, Jesus revealed himself to Mary Magdalene before revealing himself to the […]
16Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Catholics Saved Christianity | Continued
The Mormon Bible – and Mitt Romney
Son, Mitt Romney has said that he will ‘put his hand on the Bible” and take the oath of office. My question is simple, which Bible is he going to put his hand on? I think it is a fair question – he is taking an oath to defend you and me, your children and […]
7Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
Of Mental Illness, church, and family
Son I wrote recently about depression. Meriwether Lewis was my inspiration – a man of undaunted courage who also suffered from depression. As noted, my case is mild, requiring a daily mental and physical discipline to keep all systems balanced. The discipline also requires staying connected socially. After all, at our primitive core, we are […]
21Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Of Mental Illness, church, and family | Continued
Abortion – conflicting messages
Son, I just saw President Bush on TV stating that he believes, “…health care should be private because medical decisions should be between the patient and their doctor…” Whoa – Where did I hear that before? I don’t think the President was aware of what he was saying. President Bush just presented the fundamental argument […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Truth – an understanding
Son, We talked about faith and knowledge – there is another confusing word TRUTH. Let us begin with an example: Ptolemy postulated about 200 CE. that the Sun and the stars rotated around the earth. This became the known truth for about 1700 years. It was a very convenient scientific truth because it fit the […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Church of Love, or Church of Law?
We have been reading a lot about fundamentalism of late. There is rhetoric abound about love vs. law. We tend to embrace the church of love and despise the church of law. Its just who we are. So, we are continually trying to reconcile our belief in the forces of love and our suspicion […]
18Sep2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued