It was the first Mardi Gras after Katrina and, we did not know at the time, our last before heading to Penn State. Our departmental staff assistant had a house right on St. Charles and so we joined our colleagues there every year for the parades. One little girl was […]
This is the lecture I gave for the 20th Annual Mark Luchinsky Lecture. These are my scripted remarks, I departed occasionally from them, but the core concepts are here. From the opening remarks: Tonight we recognize the anniversary of Mark Allan Luchinsky’s passing on January 18, 1995 at the age of […]
The benediction from this mornings Morning Prayer ends with this passage, “May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NRSV: 13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that […]
Rediscovering a song that has rolled around in my head for two decades without my really paying attention to the lyrics. For that, Terry, I am sorry. Terry Scott Taylor is one of the most talented musicians and songwriters out there. So to know that an artist has put so […]
You know when you find something great, like Dickey’s BBQ, and you think “how could I have gone so long without this?” I am feeling this way about Brunner. A great thanks to Charles Miller for introducing me and to Jim for adding to my reading list. Now, on to […]
The Third Annual Mack Brady Clinic is in the books and it was a wonderful evening. Eighty-nine children 12 and under took part, the Penn State Men’s team and coaches made it possible, and the parents, of course, who are always there for their kids. Thank you all! Please head […]
There he is, running, excited about the end of a game, his gloves almost twice as big as his hands, shirt blowing so that you can see just how skinny he is, his hair sticking up in the back, and a smile breaking across his face as he runs to his […]
I am a great admirer of GK Chesterton, from his Father Brown mysteries (the new BBC series does little justice) to his theological ramblings. His output is prodigious and thus uneven, but always entertaining and enlightening. I have been reading his introduction to Job and found these comments thought provoking. The […]
I wrote years ago on a personal theory about “when” resurrection occurs in “’Soul Sleep’ or Immediate Resurrection?” Over the years it has, for obvious reasons, become a subject I have thought about often, but until this week no one had pointed out other scholars with similar views. I never thought I […]
I have written about and shared this album before (hard to believe almost 2 years ago now), but I have been listening to it while traveling this week. Just an incredible reflection on mortality and faith. This song is particularly powerful, if perhaps cryptic. We’ll All Know Soon Enough from […]