Category Archives: Essays and Articles

Two Memories I’m fascinated by black light. When you turn off the everyday overhead light sources and turn on an ultraviolet, you see things you had know idea were there. In my senior year of college, I was recording a weekly podcast with my best friend. I was taking a theology class called Critical Issues,Continue reading “Black Light”

“There’s only two things that human beings are ever saying: please and thank you.” That line is from Marshall Rosenberg in one of his trainings on nonviolent communication. I have become very interested in his method, and I decided I would try to review here what I learned from reading his book. In this methodContinue reading “Nonviolent Communication”

It takes much discipline and restraint to care for a person while allowing them to make their own choice. The easier thing is to enter into an argument, to try and outmaneuver the other.

On this Christmas evening, I am reflecting a bit on the church. Anyone who’s read much of anything I’ve written may now sigh at the inevitable forthcoming gloom, surly observations, vexation etc. But no! It is Christmas, and this is more cheerful. My last article was about the roles and nature of the pastor andContinue reading “The Gifts of My Childhood Church”

Introduction One night, near the end of our class time, the professor had a pastor speak to us about bereavement and end of life care. After she signed off, the class discussed the roles of mental health counselors in conjunctions with and opposed to pastors in providing care. My classmate remarked that the church isContinue reading “The Pastor & the Psychotherapist”

*the use of the cover art for this piece was generously permitted by John Kennedy: www jedika.com A Funny Scene There’s a funny scene I imagine sometimes in which I get to the afterlife and meet God after a life on earth. And God tells me, “Sorry pal, you were wrong. I’m actually not quiteContinue reading “Deconstruction of Small Gods”

This is an attempt to ponder what might be happening from a psychological perspective when a very theologically oriented event takes place.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a real distaste for people who are arrogant and overly self-confident, or whom I perceive that way. It’s partly because I dislike and fear bullies and partly because most of my life I’ve felt quite the opposite: self-doubt, insecurity, a bit shy and afraid of lookingContinue reading ““Big Egos””

This is a condensed version of a piece I wrote one year ago yesterday. It was the conclusion of the 28 comic strips I posted in February of 2022 called “Fundamentals” which can be read here. (1.) Women must be allowed to worship in freedom Women are gifted by God (and who would say otherwise?!)Continue reading “5 Calls for the Church”