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American Christianity, Sexual Ethics, and Political Power
This episode is worth your time. “Evangelical” Christians once complained about the power and overreach of government. The “solution” they present today? Take control of the government and make everyone else submit. This episode covers that and SO much more.
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Dealing with difficult history
I have found a podcast series called “Presidential.” It’s a few years old now, but it takes the listener from Washington to Biden, giving each president one episode. One episode for Abraham Lincoln. One episode for Rutherford B Hayes. Quite the challenge. I am posting a link to the one on Jefferson, but you can find it on your favorite…
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The messy spirituality of Rich Mullins
Rich Mullins was a musical hero to me. I didn’t have the Beatles or Bob Dylan. But in the Christian world and the plastic music of that time, Rich was real to me. In a time and place when you felt like you had to “look good” on the outside, Rich was a mess on the outside because he was…
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We allow exploitation of the poor and accept letting powerful people get away with it
The story continues to unfold about Brett Favre, former QB of the Green Bay Packers (whose fans now insist he was QB of the Vikings last. Sorry, poor attempt at humor). He made sure funds were earmarked from the state to go to two pet projects of his. One was to the University of Southern Mississippi (his alma mater) and…
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The “baked in” racism that still exists
The Alabama state constitution was re-formed in 1901. It is the longest constitution anywhere in the United States and it “bakes in” racist language that is STILL THERE. For those who accuse others of “erasing” history, I would challenge them to understand history MORE FULLY.
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Idols that need destroying
“Awakening to love can happen only as we let go of our obsession with power and domination.” — bell hooks You have to knock over a few idols along the way. The gods of this age are controlling. They have a chokehold in all that we do in every institution existing in our culture. When you go after power and…
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Everything is on fire
This podcast with Brian Zahn has been something that is sinking deep into my soul. Zahn has a story at the end about the fire at Notre Dame that stirred me and calls me to keep following Jesus no matter what. I need to absorb this stance Zahn describes deep into my life. This is “last third living.”
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The centering place of Christ and love
“My belief that God is love — that love is everything, our true destiny — sustains me. I affirm these beliefs through daily meditation and prayer, through contemplation and service, through worship and loving kindness.” — bell hooks, All About Love
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Evangelical orthodoxy centers on one thing… and it’s not Jesus
Nor is it the Bible. Two things I grew up believing deeply, Jesus and the Bible, turns out, in practice, NOT to be the centering thoughts of our American evangelical lives. And there is data.
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The poor and the powerful
People who don’t go to jail for exploiting the poor. Among them now is former NFL QB Brett Favre. He took huge amounts of money from the state of Mississippi that was earmarked for welfare programs. He then helped funnel $5 million from that fund to help build a volleyball arena at his alma mater.
