Tag Archives: Lent

Woke Judas

Posted on April 4, 2019 by PaulVK

In Judas' objection to Jesus' costly anointing by Mary we see a show of concern for the poor empty of first person action. Jesus' "the poor you will always have with you" may seem callous coming from a cis-male to … Continue reading →

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Can you still trust Jesus if he intentionally let Lazarus die and his sisters suffer that trauma?

Posted on March 30, 2017 by PaulVK

What did Jesus Want to Accomplish by Raising Lazarus from the Dead? Our story today is a well known one. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Now you may not believe this ever happened, your may believe it did. But … Continue reading →

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Jesus, the real Hobbes, and Superhero Stories

Posted on March 18, 2016 by PaulVK

Batman vs. Superman This week one of the most anticipated movies of the year will open. DC Comics tries to challenge their rival Marvel by having their two biggest properties square off, Batman vs. Superman. The trailers tease lines, scenes … Continue reading →

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Why the Poor Are Always Us and Why Mary Was the Best Disciple

Posted on March 11, 2016 by PaulVK

  Poverty “Larry” (I have no idea if this was his legal name) used to sleep under a bush in the back lawn of the church more than a decade ago. He painted apartments for a guy who needed to … Continue reading →

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Can you embrace the Father as he sets a table for those who have hated him and destroyed the world?

Posted on March 4, 2016 by PaulVK

What happens after you die?  Americans are more inconsistent and all over the map on life after death than well meant comments at a funeral might reveal. Many who are vaguely spiritual or religious hold to the tenets of Moralistic … Continue reading →

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Silly Humanity Fears Sudden Death by Political Terror so we can linger longer in a Bad Nursing Home

Posted on February 26, 2016 by PaulVK

Fear is a funny, contextual thing. If you were to listen to the current presidential debates you’d imagine ourselves under the imminent, credible threat of ISIS or North Korea destroying us all. The irony is that during much of the … Continue reading →

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“Lord, Will Only a Few Be Saved?”

Posted on February 19, 2016 by PaulVK

The Question The question is always heard in a context. Why ask Jesus this Question? The unidentified person who asked Jesus this question asked it to Jesus for a reason. People were wondering about Jesus. He had exhibited power in … Continue reading →

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Why Christian obedience looks so stupid, and then again so beautiful

Posted on February 12, 2016 by PaulVK

Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking about the relationship between the story-verse and the matter-verse. As human beings we must inhabit stories yet as we saw with Jim Carrey there is an uneasy relationship between the stories we … Continue reading →

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Seeks out a church on Ash Wed. but not Sunday

Posted on February 10, 2016 by PaulVK

RNS Christian tradition plus contemporary blender of self-expressive spirituality equals postmodern seeking Though I think and write about religion, I am not particularly devout. I can accept faith as a way of seeing. But I struggle with faith as a … Continue reading →

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Lent in North America, James KA Smith

Posted on February 10, 2016 by PaulVK

“even our self-denial is an act of self-expression. Our submission to discipline is converted to act of will power.” http://forsclavigera.blogspot.ca/2016/02/an-american-lent.html In a more robustly communal practice of the faith, my self-denial is not up to me. The practices of fasting … Continue reading →

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