Here is a letter – surprise, surprise – that wasn’t relegated to the trash can by its receipts. The The Lutheran Witness published it in the October 2017 issue. Continue reading
The title comes from a tale in The Arabian Nights. A Barmecidian Feast is an expression that refers to anything that promises much and delivers little. It comes from the story of a very rich host who would invite beggars to his resplendent home for a feast only to serve them empty plates. They would each go along not wishing to appear so silly as to not see and taste such fine food. Continue reading
Surely you’ve seen this sign. It is popular in Austin, no wonder at that. Austinites confess their faith on bumpers, shirts, body parts and now a yard sign. Continue reading
The 1970 book Wines for Everyone says this. “It would be neat to say that there is only one kind of bad wine but a million sorts of good. Unfortunately, this is untrue, for the ingenuity of some wine merchants is such that are many sorts of rubbishy wine, that is, wines which have no individuality, no character. Some are made by mixing a little good wine with much bad and giving it the name of good. This is called in France, where it is a custom of enormous antiquity, coupage. The result of the operation is that the best qualities of the good are destroyed without a trace” (11). Continue reading
This is a link to the article “Standing with the bulls” by Jane B. Cheaney published in the May 2017 WORLD Magazine (p. 14): https://world.wng.org/2017/05/standing_with_the_bulls If it doesn’t work, my October-November 2017 newsletter will have it printed. The article refers to the statue in this picture. Continue reading
In south Louisiana the rabbit hunting is spectacular. You would have to be a pretty lousy shot not to bag your limit. The problem is you’re hunting at times on top of bogs. Continue reading
I have a confession to make. I try not to have to preach on July 4th. Continue reading
I’ve heard this from blue collar iron workers to white color businessmen. “Life is too short to partake of cheap beer, cigars,” or any other condiment of our existence. But is it? Continue reading
Whether it’s Peter, Paul, and Mary’s 1963 “Puff the Magic Dragon,” or the 1977 – rather annoying – song by Styx “Come Sail Away” or the 1980 – less annoying – song by Christopher Cross “Sail Away”, images of the sea captivate. But this is not about the sea but about a synod. Continue reading
So sang Willie and Waylon about cowboys, buy you can be a Confessional Lutheran and be a cowboy. The same can’t be said of being a Presbyterian. Never the twain shall meet. The thing conservative Presbyterians are closest to meeting is Unitarianism. I say this after visiting Redeemer Presbyterian, Austin, Texas. Continue reading
