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Romans 13 Again..

Lots of people I respect, as people of faith and intellect, keep getting Romans 13 completely wrong, so I’ll try one more time… At the outset, this passage (“be subject to the governing authorities”) is likely THE most proof-texted passage in scripture.  People trot it out as though absolutely nothing else in the Word qualifies..

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Cowardice, Hot Tubs, Serial Killers, January 6th

Cowardice I have reason to believe we are all natural cowards, that it takes training and education and moral conviction to overcome our natural state.  Even if you ask experienced combat veterans about fear, they will tell you that only the truly insane are without it.  Those who are considered “brave” are the ones who..

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The International Commission on Beige

Beige is the Rage The unfolding of the crisis — the actual events themselves — were similar for everyone, I suppose. In my case, a co-worker, Sally Truesdale, zoom-called me and asked, “Did you hear yet?” “What?” I asked. “They are grounding all international flights.” “Why?” “The beige crisis.  It’s finally hitting.  You haven’t been..

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Adjusting For Size

At first, when the frogs all started getting bigger, people thought it was cute.  It wasn’t a plague, after all.  They weren’t roiling and pulsing across the plane—threatening invasion.  You didn’t find them between the bed sheets, or massing on the lawn furniture. It’s just that the damn things were getting larger. “Everett found one..

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Dark Math

Think About It.. According to one source, California has $1.5 TRILLION in unfunded pension liability.   “Unfunded pension liability” represents that portion of the state’s pension obligation not covered by agency and employee contributions.  Another way of putting it is this: “in order to keep paying your pensions, we need to come up with about $1.5..

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Random Fiesta Summer Stuff..

Don’t Cry For Me, Santa Barbara I approach festivals — any community festival heavily managed by institutional types worried about their ESG/DEI ratings — with deep suspicion, since you never know when a congregational response will be required of you.  (Priest: “May climate change worry be with you.”  Worshippers: “And also with you!”) So I..

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Square Dance Pride

The Ugly Problem of Folk Dance Hate.. September is National Square Dance Month, but the national celebration will be too late for Marcy Quinsdale.  Marcy, just 14 years old, had saved enough money from her allowance to buy a competitive dance outfit, with a gored, pocketed skirt and peasant style blouse. The ensemble was all..

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