-
Recent Posts
-
Join 1,006 other subscribers
Top Posts & Pages
- My Only Friend is Darkness - A Sermon about Depression, Anxiety and Mental Health
- The First Christian Preacher - A Sermon about Mary Magdalene
- The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing
- Noah, the Film: A Rant, a Review, and a Recommendation
- "Into the Hand of a Woman" (Or, A Well-Placed Tent Peg)
- The Women Stayed - An Easter Sermon
- ON THE END OF THE SABBATICAL
- The Saddest Place on Earth
- He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures . . .
- Women Who Challenged Moses (and God): The Daughters of Zelophehad
Categories
- Abortion
- Arts and Culture
- Atheism
- Baseball
- Bible
- Christian Living
- Christianity
- Christianity and Culture
- Christmas
- Church
- Easter
- ELCA
- End of Life
- Faith
- Faith and Science
- Family
- Father
- film
- Football
- Game Shows
- Homosexuality
- Islam
- Israel
- Jeopardy
- LGBTQ
- Lutheran
- Lutheran Theology
- marriage equality
- Martin Luther
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Medicine
- Movies
- Parenting
- Pastors
- Political
- Postcards from a Journey Through the Bible
- Prayer
- Psalm 139
- Quantum Physics
- Questions
- Racism
- Random
- Rock bands
- Salvation by Grace
- Sermon
- Short Story
- Thanksgiving
- The Holy Spirit
- The Who
- Too Smart for God
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
- Worship
- Writing
Archives
- April 2021
- June 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- July 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- August 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- February 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- August 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
Meta
Author Archives: pastordavesimpson
The Unexpected Pastor’s Best Picture Countdown 2021
This is the first year since . . . sometime in my early teens, I guess . . . that I have not seen any of the Best Picture nominees in a theater. I know it’s just one of many … Continue reading
TOO SMART FOR GOD Is Now Available!
My book, Too Smart for God, is now available in paperback or Kindle on Amazon.com. Here’s the description from the back of the book: Dave Simpson knew a lot of answers, but he didn’t know The Answer. A four-time Jeopardy! … Continue reading
Car Theft and Ball Theft – A Story of Systemic Racism
Maybe this story of two incidents in the same week from my years as a Juvenile Probation Officer will help folks understand how structures and systems that perpetuate white privilege work, and why we need to work to change them: … Continue reading
Why This Pastor Speaks about Racism
On Facebook, someone asked me why I posted about racism. Isn’t it a pastor’s job to be uplifting? Here is my response (slightly edited) . . . Racism is evil, even demonic. If followers of Christ do not confront evil, … Continue reading
An Update About My Book, and a Chapter
The publication of my book Too Smart for God, has been delayed by the COVID-19 situation. In the meantime here is a chapter that did not make the final edit – consider it kind of a “deleted scene.” Enjoy! CHAPTER … Continue reading
Posted in Too Smart for God
Tagged Adolescence, Cursing, John Boy, Parents, Too Smart for God
6 Comments
I’m Not Dead Yet!
It’s my anniversary! Not my wedding anniversary. That’s coming up on Monday. It’s the third anniversary of the day my body tried to kill me. The third anniversary of a doctor in the ER saying, “You have bilateral pulmonary embolisms.” … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Faith
Tagged Ash Wednesday, Bilateral Pulmonary Embolisms, Easter, Lent
6 Comments
The Unexpected Pastor’s Best Picture Countdown 2020
When I was an adolescent just developing my passion for film, the Academy Awards seemed the definitive imprimatur of quality, significance, and enduring legacy. I have no defense except Paul’s in First Corinthians: “When I was a child, I … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Culture, film, Movies
Tagged 2020 Academy Awards, Best Picture, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Oscars, Parasite
1 Comment
My Only Friend is Darkness – A Sermon about Depression, Anxiety and Mental Health
(Sermon preached at Christ Lutheran (ELCA) Church of Millersville, Maryland. You can see a video of the sermon here, – about 5:40 is the start of the sermon – or a podcast here. The text is Psalm 88.) My only … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Church, Faith, Martin Luther, Sermon
Tagged Lament Psalms, Psalm 88, Sermon on Anxiety, Sermon on Depression, Sermon on Mental Health
3 Comments
The Bible: God’s Word in Conversation with God’s People
The Bible is the Word of God. Sure. I agree with that. It’s in the constitutions of my denomination (ELCA) and its individual congregations: The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired … Continue reading
The Women Stayed – An Easter Sermon
(Sermon based on Matthew 28:1-10 preached at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Millersville on Easter Sunday 2019. You can hear a podcast of the sermon here.) How many times have we heard it? How many times have I preached it? … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Easter, Faith, Sermon
Tagged Easter Sermon, Mary Magdalene, Matthew 28, The Women at the Tomb
3 Comments
The Unexpected Pastor 