Safe Haven

5 Thoughts For Your Consideration 5. The Texas Senate voted to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. They actually debated it. Somehow, killing defenseless people has become acceptable. 4. No, I will not be "reasonable" on this issue. I'm glad Dr. King never listened to the voices of "reason." 3. I have an idea: We'll let any undocumented immigrant stay and have "anchor babies" as far as the eye can see, on one condition: NO ABORTIONS. 2. Our practice of killing people must stop. Some are on their way to death because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Which aspect of our death-cult am I addressing? Does it matter? 1. Hatred of heterosexual marriage, forced contraception, death chambers of all kinds, foreign wars...it sounds like someone hates us. Oh, wait.

We have a lot to think about in economics with respect to markets, human dignity, and meaningful economic self-determination. On the other hand, I really enjoyed this comment someone posted: "Catholics are notoriously bad at economics, so I'm not at all surprised to see one advocating for leftist policies." Sue me. For the record, we are not as Catholics supposed to "split the middle" on the issues of the day; we are supposed to apply the principles of Church teaching to whatever we happen to be doing. I would rather say, "This particular market set-up takes insufficient account of the human dignity of one or more of the participants, or is not ordered to the common good" than I would say, "Markets are not the answer." Markets give you what you ask for, no more and no less. We should stop blaming our tools for the flaws in ourselves. And frankly, asserting that one is acting in the common good is not necessarily sufficient grounds for...

5 Pithy Thoughts For Today 5. Why I'm not Protestant in one sentence: "One cannot be both the arbiter of divine revelation, and a humble receiver of it at the same time." 4. The interpretations of a community mean precisely squadoosh in the realm of theology--that is, dogma--unless that community's interpretations are vouchsafed by God Himself. And if it is, you can't leave (or you shouldn't). 3. Some people love to prattle on about the finitude and wickedness of man; oddly, these insights do not apply to their own biblical hermeneutics. 2. The Incarnation is the explicit refutation of the idea that the Christ of faith and the historical Jesus are not the same person. 1. One verse destroys that silly "Law/Gospel" paradigm: Romans 3:29. N.T. Wright, call your office!

5 Thoughts For Today 5. Note to the Lutherans: You can't say, "We want nothing to do with you papists!" and "But we have a valid Mass!" Something's got to give. Pick one. 4. Getting all sacramental without answering that teensy authority question is like wearing a tuxedo t-shirt to a wedding, and hoping no one will notice. 3. "Getting all sacramental" is the ecclesial equivalent of crying during a Pee-Wee Herman movie, in case you're wondering. 2. [Does this mean Catholics are allowed to cry at Pee-Wee Herman movies?--ed.] Hmmm, didn't think that one through. [Clearly.--ed.] 1. [This clearly means you get all sacramental during "Zoolander."--ed.] Hey, when Derek and Hansel unite, it's genuinely affective, OK? [Bwahahaha!--ed.]

The only reason a bunch of dudes singing Wilson Phillips at the top of their lungs is ironically funny in the Decade of Irony is that it's good. You realize that, right? Everyone in music that SNL made fun of is actually awesome. At some point, I said, "Forget this, man. I've been through so much stuff that holding on to Cool Points is stupid." Most people secretly love that mainstream pop ballad on the radio; they're just hoping that making fun of it will deflect scrutiny. But isn't the real reason we've had a Decade of Irony is because we're all deeply wounded? And if you think the whiplash from the 1960s was bad--cue the Carpenters--how gut-wrenching do you think the recovery-pop of the Millenials is going to be? It might be true that the "soundtrack to our lives" kind of people are inclined to a reckless sentimentality; it's also true that when you get old, everything gets real simple. Simple and earnest.

I read this today. I think I was able to actually do this finally maybe 2 weeks ago, but I read this, and it brought me back to The Painful Thing, at least the echo of it. So I wanted to be sure. I have probably confessed the sin of my anger over it at least 5 times. I never wished any harm on anybody; I can say that with a clear conscience. Yet we all know when we are really angry and hurt and we're not sure what would come out of our mouths, should that person call or visit. I have serious abandonment issues, because of some things that happened before. And something tripped a wire. I lashed out; I got possessive and jealous, and I said more than I should, at the very least. I'm not trying to make an excuse here, but there it is. And my friend said goodbye. And I couldn't even take it back. That made the feelings worse. I asked the Lord to take my life, so terrible was the pain and loss. It really hurt that the last thing she said was basically, "All the good in y...

5 Awesome Things That Are In The Bible 5. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8:1) 4. "But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) 3. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." (John 1:14) 2. "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." (John 6:56) 1. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Questions To Ruin (Or Probably Save) Your Life 5. "Why would the New Covenant be less sacrificial than the Old?" 4. "Why do I accept one ecumenical council, but not another?" 3. "So you're saying we need an ordained ministry, when our entire movement was a theological rejection of the ordained ministry?" 2. "What is the gospel?" 1. "What is the Church?"

5 Thoughts For Today 5. The homilies suck because they are not biblical. 4. The homilies suck because they are not true. 3. This is not at all opposed to Sacred Tradition; on the contrary; Tradition is biblical theology on steroids. 2. Maybe we just need to listen more to Uncle Scotty. (let the reader understand) 1. Preach from Love, not the fear of man.

It was my distinct honor and privilege to attend the 2013 Called to Communion Retreat. I cannot express to you how blessed I feel to know these men. There is a closeness here that goes far beyond friendship; it is that spiritual and supernatural friendship that binds us all in the Body of Christ. Every one of us believes that the riches we found in the Reformed tradition not only formed us, but led us here. We were honored to be joined for the weekend by Dr. Scott Hahn, one of the best theologians in our country and the world today. Ahem. Let's just say that if Dr. Hahn wants to be in the group...we'll talk it over and see what we can do. [Ha!--ed.] It was fun to hear Scott talk about the "old days" and the men who shaped him. We noticed very quickly that for each one of us, Scott knew or worked with someone who mentored or inspired us. The Reformed world is very influential, but it isn't big. One thing I will never forget is the laughter; we laughed as much...