Monthly Archives: February 2012

The Church Is Not Hogwarts – Conclusion: The Big Lie

Posted on February 29, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

The church is not Hogwarts, where we go to learn the right words to say when we want stuff or when we want something to happen. And I don’t want anyone to get that impression. When I pray in public, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Pastors, Prayer | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Church Is Not Hogwarts – Part One

Posted on February 27, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

(I was recently asked why I pray extemporaneously in church rather than reading prayers I or someone else have written beforehand.  Here’s my answer for Christians and non-Christians . . .) Speaking  of music on airplanes (which I did in … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Pastors, Prayer | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Unexpected Pastor’s Oscar Countdown

Posted on February 25, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

I’m usually only posting Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but today I saw the last of the 9 films nominated for Best Picture this year and I wanted to get this up before the Oscars Sunday night.   These are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and Culture, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Church Is Going to Crash!

Posted on February 24, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

“We’re going to crash,” said the man on my plane . . . For a long time, I rejected faith in stuff I thought was just  too stupid to believe.  But at 30,000 feet I strove to be a believer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Church, Prayer | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Confession BY the Church – Some Thoughts for Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 22, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

Most folks associate Ash Wednesday with individual confession and repentance.  But what about confession and repentance by the church? One of my favorite chapters in Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz (which I was happy to read has been made into a movie) takes … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Worst Kind of Medicine?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

I wish I’d read the article in yesterday’s Washington Post before I preached yesterday.  I would’ve spent more time on the portion of my sermon that went something like this (I preached from notes not a manuscript therefore “something”): Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, End of Life, Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Quantum God

Posted on February 17, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

I am intrigued by quantum physics.  I don’t get all the math, but just trying to grasp the mysterious properties of matter in its infinitesimally smallest bits keeps me transfixed. Right now, among the other books I’m reading is Absolutely … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith and Science, Psalm 139, Quantum Physics | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Keeping Score Church-Style

Posted on February 15, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

Today is the deadline for submitting my Congregational Report to the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).  I will dutifully count the number of baptisms, new members, confirmations, and so on that occurred in 2011.  I will report income, expenses, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, ELCA, Pastors | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

42 Youths Mauled by Bears!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

Elisha the prophet was walking to Bethel.  Some kids from the town started taunting him.  “What’s up, old baldhead!  Out of our way, skinhead.”* As a fellow member of the No-hair Club for Men, I share Elisha’s offense at what those … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Stump the Pastor in WaWa or Why I Wear a Clerical Collar

Posted on February 10, 2012 by pastordavesimpson

What a long line at WaWa this morning!  I was there on my daily visit to buy coffee, and although it was rush hour both on the road and inside the WaWa there was only one register open.  Thankfully, a guy appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Jeopardy, Pastors | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments