Category Archives: On the way to Sunday’s sermon

Sabbath Keeping, the Most Gloriously Arbitrary Commandment

Posted on February 21, 2014 by PaulVK

Blue Laws Bergen County’s blue laws — the rules that keep most of the county’s stores closed on Sundays — are being scrutinized for signs of weakness by groups that believe the time is right to repeal them. Politicians have … Continue reading →

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Burn Victims both Wanting and Fearing the Embrace of Another: Woody, Mia and the Third Commandment

Posted on February 14, 2014 by PaulVK

Hurt People Hurt People On Feb 1 of this year Dylan Farrow published an open letter in the New York Times telling her story of being sexually abused by her then adopted father Woody Allen when she was 7 years … Continue reading →

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Should You Put Buddha in the Bathroom?

Posted on January 31, 2014 by PaulVK

Religious Decor You can find this picture together with a discussion on whether or not it is disrespectful to put a statue of Buddha in a bathroom as a decorative piece. Comments range from 1. It is offensive to Buddhists. … Continue reading →

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Religious Consumers in the Land of All-God, No-God, Which-God

Posted on January 24, 2014 by PaulVK

All-God, No-God, Which-God In Northern California people are all over the map when it comes to God. For some God is everywhere, in everything. You can’t step in dog-poop without touching God. For others there is no God, not any … Continue reading →

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When God’s Public Appearance Didn’t Work

Posted on January 17, 2014 by PaulVK

A Manuel for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian has written A Manual for Creating Atheists. The subtitle of chapter one gives the purpose: “To give people the conversational tools to talk people out of their faith and help them embrace reason.” In … Continue reading →

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When Moses, Jethro, Phil Robertson and the Pope go into a Tent Together

Posted on December 27, 2013 by PaulVK

Tribes We are all born into tribes. We are born into families, into countries, into ethnic groups, into religions (or non-religions), and into allegiances. Some of these tribes we pick up as we go, some were passed on by our … Continue reading →

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Esther for Advent Act 4: Rhyming Through the Puzzle of Cross and Iron Scepter

Posted on December 20, 2013 by PaulVK

                    Sermon Audio This is a famous picture of the US Third army after they took Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” alpine retreat. Here are US soldier’s enjoying Hitler’s wine. A scene like … Continue reading →

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Esther for Advent Act 3: How We Undo Ourselves in Empire

Posted on December 12, 2013 by PaulVK

    Esther For Advent Sermon Audio Advent is about God’s rescue of us as we are enveloped by the empire where God is concealed and our rebellion is revealed. In the first act of the story of Esther we … Continue reading →

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Esther for Advent Act 2: What Haman Saved Esther From

Posted on December 5, 2013 by PaulVK

“I’m a romantic, and I kind of believe in this fairy tale. I think that’s always been to my advantage. If you can believe in something great I feel that you can achieve something great. I have that same belief … Continue reading →

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Esther for Advent: Act 1: the Seduction of the People of God

Posted on November 29, 2013 by PaulVK

Sermon Audio As a boy Christmas began in the same way every year, with the Sears “Wishbook”. My sisters and I would page through the toy section and dream what might come under the plastic tree. While it is true … Continue reading →

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