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Category Archives: Christian Living
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
Children at the Border: The Cruelty of “Whatever Works”
“Just shooting one would be all that it takes . . .” In my mid 20’s I worked for two years at a Wilderness Camp for delinquent young men. It was rewarding but often challenging and frustrating work. Living in … Continue reading
An UpLyfting Ride
In these dark days of divisiveness, you’ve got to find hope where you can. Last week, hope surprised me in a grey Honda Accord. Lyft driver Rayan* picked me up at my San Diego Hotel. I’d spent a few days … Continue reading
Why Are Atheists So Bad?
You know that saying about how there are no stupid questions? There are exceptions . . . A Facebook friend posted a link to this query on the Quora question and answer website: This may sound naive, but what keeps … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Christianity and Culture, Church, Lutheran Theology
Tagged Agnostics, Atheists, Christian superiority, Grace, Quora
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Nassar Survivor’s Wake-up Call to the Church
A couple of days ago I read a Huffington Post article about the first woman who had the courage to step forward and publicly accuse US Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of abuse. Rachel Denhollander, one of 150 survivors who … Continue reading
Strength in Weakness
This line from the State of the Union Address has me thinking this morning: “Weakness is the surest path to conflict, and unmatched power is the surest means of our defense.” Those words remind me why Christianity – faithfully following … Continue reading
“Fear Not” – The Angels’ Prescription for the (White) American Church
This time of year we sing “Joy to the World.” But if we’re honest, we’ll acknowledge that too often what we bring to the world is fear. The Washington Post published a prescient article this week by Charles Mathewes, a professor of … Continue reading
The Celebration of Christ’s Birth Asks for Divorce
Dear Secular Christmas, It’s time for a divorce. Time for Secular Christmas and The Celebration of Christ’s Birth to make a clean break. We have tried so hard to make this marriage work. But this is no longer a partnership. … Continue reading