[featured-image link=”null” link_single=”inherit” single_newwindow=”false”] Here is another example of the paranoia that is coming so often from the political right these days. This is a great illustration of how we can assign meaning to things that seems to resonate on a visceral level, and yet we can miss the mark completely. [disclaimer: I realize politicalContinue reading “Fox’s Paranoia”
Author Archives: temparbor
Retail Rudeness
Coming off the lengthy and heavy Notes from Manresa series, I feel a deep need to return to my rightful place as a curmudgeon. Two things in particular have been bugging me. First, how much longer are cash register receipts going to get? When I first got married in 1988 (I was six years old), receipts hadContinue reading “Retail Rudeness”
Codewords
Glenn Beck’s recent diatribe on how the words “social justice” are codewords for Nazism and Communism got me thinking, in general, about the idea of codewords. When a military commander sends a message to headquarters in code, he assumes that 1) there is actually a place called headquarters; and 2) that this place called headquartersContinue reading “Codewords”
Hearing God
Lily Tomlin once noted that when we talk to God we call it prayer, but when God talks back we call it schizophrenia. More than 90% of Americans say they pray regularly. Are you one of them? When you talk to God, do you hope that he will talk back? Is there any reason youContinue reading “Hearing God”
On the turning…
I will never cease to be a Free Methodist. I am proud of our background and what our church has always stood for. But I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit misled by the evangelical tradition in general lately. The view of Christ, of God, etc., that I was taught is only about 100Continue reading “On the turning…”
Can God use people who don’t serve him?
In the church we often think God can only work through people who have devoted their lives to serving Him. Actually this is not the case at all, and when we believe this it marginalizes God to the fringe. God can do anything and work through anyone in any circumstance. It’s pretty Biblical. In Genesis,Continue reading “Can God use people who don’t serve him?”
Stuff Christians Like – The Book
Jonathon Acuff, blogger at StuffChristiansLike.net, has released a book, and it is free this month at ChristianAudio.com. This is great satire and will resonate deeply with those who have spent years immersed in Christian culture. If you don’t come out of a church background, but are curious about these odd Christian folk, downloading and listening to thisContinue reading “Stuff Christians Like – The Book”
Improvements at thefallencleric.com
I have just made it a bit easier for you to find my blog. You can now leave “wordpress” out of the address, and just type thefallencleric.com into your browser. Now for a word about subscribing. About 98% of my readers are simply clicking on the link I post to this blog after I writeContinue reading “Improvements at thefallencleric.com”
What Do I Do?
I am a pastor, counselor, and college professor. This basically means that my life is all about trying to answer questions people ask me. One of the questions I am asked most often is, “What do I do?” Christians want to know what to do to grow in their faith. Married couples want to knowContinue reading “What Do I Do?”
Why We’re Ditching Our TV Service
Okay, it’s probably not as dramatic as my headline, and definitely not as dramatic as the picture, but we’re getting rid of Dish Network. And we’re moving to a basic cable plan that offers six local stations and that’s it. The only reason we’re even doing that is because that’s what is required in orderContinue reading “Why We’re Ditching Our TV Service”
Temp Arbor 