Nouwen on the Communal Life
My new favorite book is Can You Drink the Cup by Henri Nouwen. Well, actually, that’s probably not true but it’s really, really good. Nouwen uses the communion cup as a metaphor for the Christian life. The call is to...
The Gospel According to Trees: An Intro
In the next few weeks I’ll be writing variations on a theme here at Mere-O and I’m interested to know how you all feel about the theme itself. A few weeks ago we were contacted by an organization that plants...
Eat. Pray? Love. Love?
One of my best friends is a film critic here in Los Angeles. A perk of this particular job is that she sees movies a few days early and sometimes takes me along (this really is more of a perk...
On Modesty and Self-Identity
There is an interesting parallel, obvious open reflection, between modesty and sense of self. It occurred to me on one particularly lazy Saturday as I sat on a friend’s couch and watched a “real” housewife “find” herself relearning the art...
A Different Kind of Demonstration
So remember when I promised to write about whether or not homosexuality is a sin and then I disappeared? Sorry about that. I am constantly drafting the post in my head, but it’s not ready yet. In the meantime, I’d love...
Because of My Mother
As I type this I am watching a smug and self-important young woman on a Sunday morning show give a monologue on The Pill. On this Mother’s Day, she is telling the nation how great it is that women no...
Why Jennifer Knapp Matters
(I hope I’m not doing exactly what Matt is afraid of, but here it goes anyway) I’ve never related to the idea that Jesus is my homeboy. I’ve never been able to get comfortable with Christian t-shirts or bumper stickers,...
On Lent and Hard Times: Death to Life
I taught the Palm Sunday lesson to all the preschool-aged children at my church last Sunday. It was difficult for me to speak truly about the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem while still communicating something they could understand. We ended...
On Lent and Hard Times: For Those Who Walk Among Noise
Where shall the word be found, where will the word Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence Not on the sea or on the islands, not On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land, For those who...
On Lent and Hard Times: Seasonal Creatures
There is a trick employed by many a horse owner that helps them keep their show horses looking sleek and shiny year round. When the days begin to shorten as winter approaches, horses will naturally grow longer, thicker, and courser...