Yesterday the United States District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin declared that the National Day of Prayer is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. Though I'm generally a big fan of keeping church and state separate, I'll reserve comment on the particulars of this case until I read the ruling (found here, asContinue reading “National Day of Prayer declared unconstitutional”
Category Archives: Society
“Kids Have No Manners Today”
Kids running around the mall food court, kicking and screaming in the grocery store, or running laps in the church hall during coffee hour. "Kids have no manners today," we say. Though that statement clearly reflects some selective memory at work – as if kids were entirely well-behaved 30 or 60 years ago – thereContinue reading ““Kids Have No Manners Today””
Choosing Church … or Vacation, or Soccer, or Work, or Family Time, or …
One of the most subtle yet significant learnings I picked up at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network's Extravaganza was a simple little law filled with love: Don't complain about parents who take their kids to (insert activity) instead of church. They are doing so out of love. Indeed, the importance of this little law didn'tContinue reading “Choosing Church … or Vacation, or Soccer, or Work, or Family Time, or …”
Tiger Woods, Figure Skating, et al: Sport or Show?
Though this blog is usually focused on church and ministry-related themes, I couldn't help myself. There are a few sports stories out there today that I just demanded my attention. Thomas Boswell, the excellent sports columnist for the Washington Post, critiques Tiger Woods' performance yesterday as a "10-course ego feast … [a] stop-the-world presidential-style non-newsContinue reading “Tiger Woods, Figure Skating, et al: Sport or Show?”
Moment of Silence in Virginia Schools
According to Virginia law, a school pupil's free exercise of religion within the schools is guaranteed by one minute of silence in the school day. I'm no lawyer, but I am a pastor and a person of at least ordinary intelligence. I have a hard time seeing how a minute of silence provides such aContinue reading “Moment of Silence in Virginia Schools”
The Lutheran Zephyr 