Lent is here again, and Covid-19 remains the reality in our lives. Usually during Lent, we think about what we are giving up as our fast during this season leading to Easter, and often it is something like meat, wine, chocolate, or sex that people choose to eschew. Perhaps this year is different due to …
Author: Tattooed Theologian
From repudiation to reconciliation
The voters in the United States have spoken and Donald Trump has mercifully been made a lame-duck president. He will go down in history as a complete failure as president, by virtue of only winning one term in office and being rightfully impeached during that term. By his own standard, he claimed that winning 306 …
The Earth needs a Sabbath
Biblical scripture speaks to the beauty of our home planet, the need to take care of it, and I believe command to reverence it as well. The Orthodox Church in America notes that reverence is hard to define, saying that it can be seen in attitudes of wonder, awe, submission or respect, along with veneration, …
This isn’t about me.
I have a favorite spot that I like to go to decompress here in Lancaster, PA where I live called The Fridge. It's a local craft beer and pizza restaurant that has long been my go to place to relax, enjoy some great food, and an amazing selection of craft beers. The staff know me …
What I hear…
Earlier this week, I had an interaction with a former seminary colleague and friend who had been posting some pro-Trump links on her social media page. I simply asked her point blank if she is now a Trump supporter to which she replied, "I now see the Republican platform as the lesser of two evils. …
It’s the heretic of the week
Recently, I was invited to be the 'Heretic of the Week' on the delightful Heretic Happy Hour podcast as part of their series on the Sermon on the Mount. It was a perfect way to introduce people to the concept of permaculture being a way to live out the golden rule and inform our day-to-day …
On Trump’s pandering and using God as a prop
During a recent trip to Ohio, the current occupant of the White House said that if Joe Biden were elected that Biden would, " "Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment. No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt God. "He's against God, he's against guns, he's against energy, our kind of energy."(1) From …
Continue reading On Trump’s pandering and using God as a prop
Discussing Dr. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning
I recently read Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's landmark book Stamped from the Beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America and then sat down to discuss this truly important book with the host of Book Ish: The Canon Continues podcast (Book Ish ). Because this book is so well researched and covers the history …
Continue reading Discussing Dr. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning
Recommended reading: Florer-Bixler’s Fire by Night
Melissa Florer-Bixler's book Fire by Night: Finding God in the pages of the Old Testament is a must read for Christians who struggle to make sense of or to find meaning in the Hebrew scriptures. Though her theological and Biblical interpretation skills are clearly evident, Florer-Bixler writes in a wonderfully accessible, narrative style that I …
Continue reading Recommended reading: Florer-Bixler’s Fire by Night
Dear white people, part two
The following incident just happened less than thirty minutes ago. I walked down to the Country Garden Six-Pack to get some beer. While in line, a couple who were not wearing masks cut the line and started to crowd me at the register. I turned and stuck my arm out to create space and …