"Radical" is a risky word to apply to scripture; it often signals controversy, anticipates antagonism, and puts hearers on edge as they consider the violence associated with many forms of radicalism. But to be radical is not necessarily to be selfish, violent, and angry. In fact, in this turbulent age, it might just be to…
Once again, a graveyard has inspired poetry. This time, it was the historic Greyfriar's Kirkyard. It was once the post of a loyal dog (Greyfriar's Bobby) and now is rumored to be haunted by a malevolent poltergeist. It also features several tombstones with names that JK Rowling used as Harry Potter characters! Needless to say,…
I love traditional worship and, as a church musician, am in favor of the whole package: choir robes, pipe organ, hymnals, etc. I once even jokingly said I'd drown myself if I ever heard "Oceans" played in another chapel. That said, though, I am not necessarily in favor of having separate traditional and contemporary worship services.…
To the church that has welcomed me from the first day and has never ceased to show me the care of Christ, I thank God daily for you. When I enter the doors of the sanctuary, a sigh of relief falls from my lips, for here the love of Christ is tangible. It is found…
I've been abroad in Rome for the past ten days, but today I was- to the relief of my introversion- able to escape to the countryside of Assisi. There, I hiked to the Hermitage of St. Francis and every step of the way thought, "This is the most beautiful sight...wait, no. THIS is!" It was…
I use "I'm a writer!" to justify haunting many eclectic and sometimes downright strange locations. I visited four of the below Eleven Writers' Paradises today, so I guess you could say it was a successful Sunday! (And yes, I know 11 is a weird number for a list, but it is my favorite number so sorry not sorry.)…
