Always Reforming

I am a man of few and simple pleasures: my wife's company, a glass of wine, a thought-provoking film, etc.  Among the highest of these pleasures is reading a good book, and, while merely reading a book is enjoyable, finishing it is even better.  There are few things in this life that compare to finishing a good book!  Here are the top four reasons why I love to finish a good book: 1) The sense of fulfillment.   When you close a book for the last time, you feel this strange sense of accomplishment.  I am not the most well-read person I know, but I have read quite a few books in my lifetime, and I still get that feeling every single time I finish a book.  The longer the book, of course, the greater the sense of satisfaction you receive from finishing it.  Short-term goals in life are incredibly powerful, and finishing a book is an easy way to feel like you accomplished something.  Even if the book was mediocre, finishing it can bring a strong sens...

Last week I received (among the litany of junk mail that I normally get) a colorful advertisement inviting me to place the weight of my vote behind Mike DeWine and Jon Husted , Republican candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively, here in my home state of Ohio.  Now, while I'm a right-leaning independent, this post will not be discussing the merits of any particular candidate or party.  I'd like to explore why we vote the way we do. As I perused the tri-fold flyer, three thoughts went through my head.  Firstly, I thought, "Is it really that time of year again?"  I'm beginning to think it's always that time of year!  Secondly, I couldn't help but to notice that the ad was printed on some incredibly-thick cardstock.  It was a really impressive piece of third-class mail!  The campaign donations must've been flowing in for Mr. DeWine this year. Finally, I was struck by the audacity of the claim on the front of the ad.  The tagline, ca...

John Calvin. That's just one of those names.  If you haven't heard of him, you might be theologically and historically illiterate.  If you have heard of him, you probably love him or hate him.  In my experience there are few people who are dispassionate about him and his teachings.  Those who reject his ideas often label him as a heretic and a murderer, while those who adhere to his teachings recognize him as one of the foremost theologians in the history of the Church, rivaling such minds as Augustine and Aquinas.   I am decidedly in the latter camp, but such reverence does not imply any type of man worship or total adherence to his views.  Honoring men of God does not require implicit faith in their teachings.  As Calvin often feels free to critique the illogical or unbiblical views espoused by Augustine, who was obviously one of his favorite authors and biggest influences, so Calvin's adherents should feel free to critique his teachings...

I have been quietly observing this whole Kavanaugh situation , but now I thought I'd offer a few thoughts.  I guess I haven't been accused of sexism recently enough.  In case you are unaware, the confirmation of Trump's most recent nomination for the Supreme Court is not going as smoothly as he would have hoped.  Depending on your perspective, Brett Kavanaugh is either reaping that which he has sown or is enduring character assassination the like of which most citizens will never begin to understand.  Regardless, it is a depressing commentary on the state of politics in the United States of America.  Here's my take: 1) It's always suspicious when a woman "goes public" with an accusation of sexual assault only when a conservative politician is about to attain an important office.  Can we all agree to that?  We've seen this one so many times before that it's difficult to be anything but cynical.  It's hard for the casual bystander not to ask, ...

Scandal seems to be the general theme of Pope Francis's tenure, and this year is no different.  If you've paid attention to the news at all recently, you've probably heard something about the Pope.  You see, it appears that he was privy to information  (regarding the sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholics priests) that the civil authorities in Pennsylvania would've probably appreciated being given.  That's not a good look for the Roman Catholic Church, to say the least, nor is it a good look for the Pope personally, which is why many different voices  are, both religious and secular, are calling for the Pope to resign. This, my friends, is why having a Pope is a bad idea. This is what happens when you don't listen to Jesus . Allow me to explain. You see, when I first heard that the Pope was being called upon to resign, I was stunned!  "Can you do that?" I thought.  Can you call the Vicar of Christ to resign? Now, I'm no fan of the Po...

Why do you go to church? Why don't you go to church? Both of these questions have a variety of potential answers because there are many different definitions of "church" and many different views regarding the its purpose.  Some people view church as an evangelical meeting, while others view it as the assembling of the saints for edification.  Some people go to church to be fed, while others go to give of themselves to others.  "Church" is a social club, a community, an emotional high, a lecture, or a routine.  Some people feel morally compelled to go, while others go because they value it.  All of these viewpoints, which are by no means mutually exclusive, contain a part of the truth, even if they are incomplete. It is beyond my scope today to attempt a definition of the Church, or even to discuss all the valid reasons for attending/being a member of the Church.  What I want to do is to remind people of the most fundamental reason that we gather toget...

Millennials. Much proverbial ink has been spilled bemoaning our well-documented flaws, but that's not what I'm here to do. I'm not here to predict the demise of our culture because of a generation that refuses to do anything but listen to "music" and drink craft beer. I am not here to talk about how all of society's problems are blamed on us despite the fact that these issues have existed throughout the history of mankind and are simply exacerbated/more noticeable due in the age of technology. I'm not here to talk about how our parents' and grandparents' generations laid the foundation for our licentious, hedonistic lifestyle. I am here, however, to say that we Millennials need to reevaluate our priorities. So, fellow Millennial, what is important to you? In an age where our open eyes are rarely off of a screen, what is truly important to you? In a culture that rarely stops to think deeply about anything, what holds value for you? ...