Hateful Christians seldom fess up to their hatred. In fact, they are usually blind to it, having equated hatred with a sinful emotion best deeply suppressed. When confronted with prevalent attitudes toward homosexuals, illegal immigrants, Muslims, etc., such Christians arrive armed with a line of ‘biblical’ defenses, commonly claiming the old “love the sinner, hate [...]

One of our youth group girls moved across the proverbial tracks to attend high school in a wealthy neighborhood in nearby Eugene.  She still comes to our Springfield youth group on occasion, and recently she brought a couple of her new friends, including a girl who seemed to ooze wealth and class. I knew something [...]

One of the treasures that I mined from Dad’s library is a leather-bound Common Book of Prayer, complete with hymnal.  My Dad was certainly a man of prayer, but he didn’t have a liturgical bent. I don’t know how he came by this beautiful edition, but he clearly didn’t use it. The binding was stiff [...]

With money there is no way to avoid the cold, hard facts.  You must put at least as much dough into the bank as you withdraw, or else you will run out of money.  Maybe your bank will cover some of your overdrafts, but they will charge a hefty fee for their trouble and you’ll be [...]

Discrimination. Stereotyping. Ridicule. Judgment.
 
There are people who experience open discrimination in stores, restaurants, and places of employment. Comedians joke about them. Children cruelly tease and reject them. They are regarded by many as dumber, dirtier, and lazier than other people. Social biases work against them in subtle and overt behaviors. All of these actions and [...]

It was 1984 and I was in the 5th grade at Ellis Parker Elementary School. I was still taller than all the other kids in my class, including the boys, and I was beginning to suffer the awkwardness of puberty.  We lived in South Eugene, which was the part of town inhabited by children of [...]

It may not come as a surprise that I am prone to a bit of cynicism. I love parodies.  I watch the Onion News Network and the Daily Show.  I love Christopher Guest movies. I’ve learned to keep it from showing most of the time, but I can roll my eyeballs with the skill of [...]

I once heard someone say, “People who have power never think about it. People who don’t have power think about it all the time.”
 
Some recent events in my life have me pondering the dynamics of power in relationship. I believe there is a lot of truth in that quotation. I’ve lately been on the receiving [...]

There is something good to be said about making achievable New Years resolutions - namely that I’ve been able to keep them so far.
Volleyball
My teammates have been encouraging me in my quest to master my overhand serves. We play a match that is best 2 out of 3 to win.  When we win the first [...]