Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 26. Aug, 2010
Theatergoers will be able to break out their 3D glasses and watch Avatar again this Friday. They will be rewarded, courtesy of filmmaker James Cameron, with nine extra minutes of footage. Based on the news, it seems that much of the excitement swirls around just 20 seconds, the inclusion of a Na’vi sex scene. With [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 29. Jul, 2010
I recently learned that an acquaintance of mine had announced a pretty significant life change, and not one for the better. As often happens, many people met this revelation with encouragement, impressed by his supposed authenticity and commitment to “finally being true to himself.” While I get the sentiment, I reject the thought. Admitting sin [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 22. Jul, 2010
In movies the hero butts up against a problem, something that threatens his peace, safety, and happiness. If the screenwriter is at all talented, we quickly sympathize. We have troubles of our own, after all, and our sympathy and identification increase as the story intensifies. Every twist and turn of the plot worsens our hero’s [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 20. Jul, 2010
I think that the concept of personal holiness is a bit misleading. In the Orthodox chrismation (or confirmation) service the priest prays over the person being confirmed, “Keep him ever a warrior invincible in every attack of those who assail him and us; and make us all victors, even unto the end, through thy crown [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 07. Jul, 2010
When you’re a kid you rarely glimpse just how challenging, grief-stricken, and dangerous the world really is. Other people—God bless them—are busy taking care of it for you. But as you grow up, you have to shoulder more of those responsibilities yourself, few of which come with rulebooks or how-to’s. It’s not for the faint [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 02. Jul, 2010
A publisher and a rabbi walk into a kosher restaurant. . . . That’s not the setup to a joke. A few years ago I had lunch with Rabbi Daniel Lapin at the wonderful Grins Vegetarian Café in Nashville (then and maybe now the only kosher joint around). We talked about several different things, among [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 27. Jun, 2010
I’ve been thinking for a while about how to encourage belief in my two children, particularly faith in God, trust in his mercy, and hope in his provision. But all around me I see people losing belief, not only in these things particularly, but in God generally. Why? I don’t think it’s the new crop [...]
Posted in Faith and Spirituality on 17. Aug, 2009
The so-called Prosperity Gospel uses a catchphrase that rankles its naysayers: “Name it and claim it.” But what if you could steal the line, stuff it with a different and better meaning, and turn it into something more useful to personal growth and sanctification? Writing to make sure his monks were on their best behavior, [...]
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