Riddleblog and Blessed Hope Updates:
I am pleased to announce that I have a substantial book and an academic essay forthcoming, Lord willing. Both are under contract and should reach publication by the end of 2027 or early 2028. I am very excited about these projects and I’ll tell you more about them later (when I can)
I am hard at work on the Romans series on the Blessed Hope Podcast. I hope you are enjoying going through Romans as much as I am! There are eleven episodes posted, with about fifteen episodes written. Completing these projects may require a break in podcast releases early in the New Year. We’ll see how this all unfolds
Thinking Out Loud:
Protestia is in my “X” feed and I must say, glimpsing at it is like passing an auto accident and slowing down to gawk. One of the frequent images from progressive churches is the number of middle age and older women clergy. My guess is that in their off-hours or before they were ordained, many of them are known by their neighbors as “cat ladies,” or a vocal “Karen” who shows up to complain to their HOA board that someone is flying an American flag or wearing a Maga hat while walking their dog through the neighborhood. Those who loved quilting and arts and crafts are now finding/creating liturgical vestments adored by their congregations of a dozen or so seniors and their caregivers, who like the bright colors and attend these churches on Sundays as outings from their residential facilities. These “cleric-ettes” even wear their fuzzy slippers to work! Thanks, Protestia, for reminding us of the absolute folly and soul-risking danger of progressive theology
When my musings become fantasies, I can only wonder what life in America would be like if we are one people, united by a constitutional Republican government, where the legislative branch actually did its job. Then the fantasy goes away when I’m reminded of our two miserable political parties who rule our congress, trying to “own” each other, and not working together to get important things done at a time when important things really do need to be done
If the Reformed ever had a “blessings of the animals” ceremony, would cats be included?
As a Yankees fan I can’t help but take special delight in the fact that both the Red Sox and them cheatin’ Astros were eliminated from the playoffs on the same day. Then the Yankees self-destructed against the Rays. Ugh . . . the ups and downs of being a sports fan
The title “Heritage American” is now a big deal in some Christian nationalist circles. If anyone has reason to be a Heritage American, I have more. 3x Mayflower descendant on my maternal side (Howland, Tilley, Allerton), my paternal line (Rötlisperger) arrived in PA in 1733. Of my 32 ancestral lines, the most recent one of them to arrive in America was in 1830. So, when asked about my nationality, I am truly an American. I do affirm “Christ is king” but always along with his other two offices (prophet and priest). As to lineage—Swiss (some) and British (mostly). As to criminal record or parking tickets, faultless. But I count it all dung to know I am a member of Christ’s church and am looking forward to the realization of my heavenly citizenship. And just in case one of these “Christian” nationalists becomes president, I do keep my passport current and pray the Swiss will take me back as a refugee
We can only wonder what Trump’s presidency might have been like had he never opened a “Truth Social” account
After spending so much time working through Romans 7:14-25, I think I’ll change my personal pronoun to the “wretched man”
I don’t get the “care emoji.” It is supposed to be a “virtual hug,” but it looks like a cartoon monster, or a face in a bad dream. I’ll bet AI or the CCP will use it for nefarious purposes if not already doing so
Endnotes are still a tool of the devil. When AI takes over, there will be no footnotes, only endnotes. Let that be a warning to you
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