Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. — Saint Augustine The season of Lent begins and many of us are still pondering, “What do I give up for Lent?” In earlier Lents I learned that Constantine knew what he was talking about. “Perfect moderation” is a bear. Better just give up martinis for Lent than…
Shrove Tuesday
My family knows that today is one of my favorite religious holidays. Who wouldn’t love it when the church insists that I eat pancakes, sausages, and cheese grits. Perhaps, the church wants to give me some idea what heaven is like. For the next forty days, approximately, we will fast, pray, serve others and worship…
Dragging
I am dragging today. For some reason I stayed up late watching some TV show that featured Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Usher, and a bunch of other celebrities. My question is: If the average seat for this event costs over $8000, how much does a skybox cost? And after an evening crammed into a skybox…
Persevere
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. — Romans 12:12. St. Paul is at it again. Rather than telling us that life will be a bed of roses, Paul is a realist. He tells us that sometimes “hope” is as good as it gets — celebrate it. Suffering will occur for us all…
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. — Romans 12:1b. For over seventy-five years, I’ve heard this biblical passage used to justify how people should behave, and I’m not sure I’ve heard someone get it right, especially when they are trying to tell someone else what to…