In class today I showed this youtube clip of Walter Bruggemann discussing the power of preaching. The class is on worship—the book we're reading focuses on the role of the arts in worship. The part we read for today is a presentation by Eugene…

This morning's guest blogger is James Vanden Bosch—English professor at Calvin College. It was an ordinary day in the world literature class this week; we had already read a handful of poems by Baudelaire from the anthology and other sources, and we were now working…

So have you heard of this app? Yik Yak? It's like an anonymous Twitter--post anything you want without anyone else knowing who you are. I came to know of this glorious innovation from a colleauge who showed me post after post of students upset about…

Just the other day I walked to work--about seven blocks in all--for the first time since early July. It's amazing how we take the simple things for granted. I used to push open the door, hurry down the front steps, and be on my way…

Judging by its reaction to the Ray Rice situation—the NFL cares deeply about the issue of domestic violence. The Ravens cut Rice immediately after "seeing" the despicable event in the elevator. (Because they couldn't possible imagine how a young woman gets knocked out cold?) But,…

I happened to turn on the Emmys the other night just in time to catch Jimmy Kimmel presenting an award. Only he didn't just present... he broke into a comedy bit at the expense of Matthew McConaughey. If you're interested here's the clip: Whenever anyone…

There's a new seating chart in our minivan lately. Usually, I like to drive, my wife sits in the passenger seat, and the kids sit in the back. My youngest, Savannah, sits in the way back—she still needs a car seat. Now that my leg…

Last week we started watching a new show, still trying to find a replacement for Breaking Bad. I've read reviews of True Detective, but I'm not a fan of Woody Harrelson or Matthew McConaughey so we never watched. With a busted up knee, and a bit…

I appreciated yesterday's post by Theresa (or was it Mary? I thought Theresa just turned 40 not to long ago?) The part about "acting our age" really hit home. As I write this I'm sitting in a recliner with my leg propped up on pillows,…