Category Archives: Editorials

I am amazed at how quickly Greg Smith’s public resignation from Goldman Sachs has gone viral.  I do not know the man, at all, so I am in no position to write this post on the basis of any personal … Continue reading →

The decision by leaders in the Anglican Mission in the Americas to separate from the Church in Rwanda has “hit the beach” of Christianity with full force this week.  I am not capable of commenting on all the facets of … Continue reading →

Believe it or not, I am not writing this post as a political blog, but squarely one within the framework of spiritual formation. A recent statement by a leader in the Tea Party movement sent chills through me.  He wrote, … Continue reading →

Within the last 24 hours, I have received two “messages” that I believe go a long way in showing where we are relative to the place of Christianity, and religion in general, in The United States. The first message came … Continue reading →

I intentionally shy away from making political comments on this blog.  I recognize the diversity of opinions which swirl around almost every issue, and I don’t want this blog to be viewed as politically slanted, and certainly not politically oriented. … Continue reading →

As you know, I have felt a strong check in my spirit when it comes to “editorializing” on this blog site.  There are plenty of sites that do that—some well, some not so well.  And I do not even begin … Continue reading →

In his book, The Faith, Charles Colson says that the great failure in evangelical Christianity is that its adherents have not been catechized.  He adds a similar view by J.I. Packer to his own assertion. I agree.  We have become … Continue reading →

Like many others this year, I was looking forward to seeing who the 2011 American Idol would be.  It had boiled down to Lauren and Scotty, and I was interested (more this year than in some previous ones) to see … Continue reading →

Harold Camping has done what I figured he would do; he has “re-calculated” the end of the world. I wish I could get this post to everyone in the world, not because I’m writing it, but because now is a … Continue reading →

“Judgment Day” has not come as many have believed it would. This is not a time for any “I told you so” response; it is a time for great sensitivity, compassion, and love. Some people have divested themselves of money … Continue reading →

I will bring my current remarks about Islam and Christianity to a close with this post. First, my occasional remarks about world religions are not made with any notion that Christianity (as it has been manifested in history) is automatically … Continue reading →

I hesitate to write this post, because “Oboedire” is not a political blog site.  But at the same time, there is no way to separate Christian spirituality from life in general.  There is a legitimate “social” dimension to any consideration … Continue reading →

There’s a marked contrast between Jesus’ approach to miracles and the approach some ministers take today.  Jesus never set up a tent or rented a civic center to conduct a “miracle ministry.”  In fact, seven times in the Gospel of … Continue reading →

Each morning my Daily Office includes a reading from one of the saints.  It is related to the daily Gospel lesson.  As I have connected with this “great cloud of witnesses”, I have come to see the power of metaphor … Continue reading →

A couple of days ago I heard the statistic of how many baby boomers are retiring each day.  I forget the estimate, but it was huge.  I’ve also been thinking about those clergy who will soon be retiring in my … Continue reading →

If I’ve noticed it, I’m sure you have. When you go online and want to play a video clip, a little statement appears:  “Your video will begin in 15 seconds.”  And then, immediately, some advertisement tries to sell us something. … Continue reading →

I confess right up front that the discipline of Biblical Studies is not my expertise, but I have lived most of my adult life in a milieu where formidable challenges to the Bible’s inspiration and authority have been made, and … Continue reading →

I’m using all the restraint I can muster to keep this post short and sweet. We now have blatant evidence that “Madison Avenue” has had the brains bred out of them.  I’m referring to the recent marketing of push-up swimsuits … Continue reading →

A company has just announced the production of a brain-scanning device called “Mynd.” It claims to use EEG readings to do a “full brain scan” that reveals what stimuli capture our attention.  Not surprisingly, the first use the device is … Continue reading →

Years ago, Jeannie and I were attending the rededication of the monastery church at the Abbey of Gethsemane in Kentucky.  We were there, in part, to represent Asbury Seminary.  So, I was feeling the need to say something “special” to … Continue reading →

We seem to feel the necessity to connect a number to a vision.  I remember one denomination had a vision for growth at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.  So, their slogan was “2000 … Continue reading →

The merger of AT&T with T-Mobile has prompted one journalist to say, “Ma Bell is back.”  Some of you may know what that means.  Bell Telephone was dismantled in 1984, in the belief that creating multiple telephone systems would improve … Continue reading →

The explosion of knowledge gained through the field of genetics is staggering.  As we continue to “de-code” more and more of our human makeup, we are certainly more-fully understanding the Bible’s assertion that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm … Continue reading →

Thanks to Philip Yancey, I have just read words penned by Michelangelo near the end of his life—words I have never read before, or ever heard anyone mention. He wrote, “The world’s frivolities have robbed me of the time that … Continue reading →

At midnight, we entered the season of Lent.  We leave the light of Epiphany and move into the darkness which will not yield to the dawn for 40 days.  Henri Nouwen once described Lent as a time of conflict between … Continue reading →

Watching the interview of Christopher Hitchens this past Sunday on “60 Minutes,” I felt the same wave of sadness sweep over me that I felt when I watched a similar interview done over a year ago by National Geographic. I … Continue reading →

There’s a lot of talk these days about childhood.  With concepts like “tiger mothering” and “preparing for college in kindergarten,” there’s a debate on just how much we should include in the childhood years. A recent editorial written by a … Continue reading →

I’m watching the Farmers’ Insurance Open golf tournament.  During a break in the play, they advertised some of the upcoming tournaments:  The Waste Management Open (Phoenix) and the ATT Open (Pebble Beach).  Not far from my home is Brighthouse Stadium … Continue reading →

This afternoon I was watching a basketball game.  During a break in the game the commentators were discussing an athlete who has tested positive for illegal drug use.  As I followed the conversation, it seems the person is now in … Continue reading →

I had not planned to begin posting in 2011 until tomorrow, as my earlier announcement indicated. But in my morning devotions, I realized that the Christian calendar (for many believers and churches) begins the new year with Mary, the mother … Continue reading →

A few moments ago, I took a break from grading papers.  Going to the mailbox, I found my weekly Time magazine—”The Best of 2010″ issue.  I’ve just finished my first pass through it, and while I may have missed a … Continue reading →

If you read this as a “political” post, you’ll be reading it incorrectly.  If you read it from the vantage point of spiritual formation, hopefully, you’ll be able to receive the message I am trying to send. Recently, I have … Continue reading →

The spiritual life is not only deep, it is broad.  It covers all of life.  This category captures my reflections on a wide variety of subjects.  In it, I offer you my thoughts on a range of topics and happenings, … Continue reading →

When I returned from Malaysia, I found my August 30 issue of Time magazine waiting for me.  If you’ve seen it, you know the cover described the lead article in big letters:  “Is America Islamaphobic?”  I went on to read … Continue reading →