Remembering a Prophet
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Remembering a Prophet

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Neil Postman’s death at age 72. Postman spent most of his career at New York University as a Professor of Media Ecology and wrote more than 20 books, mostly about the effects of the electronic media on our lives. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age…

The truth in a preposterous story

The truth in a preposterous story

The recently released Netflix movie Don’t Look Up is a satirical film featuring a star-studded cast of actors. It’s a gripping story about a comet heading for earth as a metaphor for climate change, but it also provides a profound commentary on American politics, entertainment, and social media. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an astronomer named Dr….

Redemption at the movies?

Redemption at the movies?

Few pieces of media are as ubiquitous in western culture as the original Star Wars trilogy, and few endings are as well known as the climax of The Return of the Jedi. The hero Luke Skywalker, bruised and apparently beaten, is saved from death by the erstwhile villain, his father Darth Vader. Doing so fatally…

Everything is Art
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Everything is Art

Every week, I ask our church community what’s helping them get through the pandemic. As a minister, the answers I receive sometimes smack of that old joke from Sunday school where every answer is “Jesus!” no matter what the kids might first think. And, honestly, that answer is correct. For every Christian (I hope), Jesus…

Shows and movies we’ve been streaming

Shows and movies we’ve been streaming

There’s a ton of great content out there that isn’t strictly Christian, yet explores questions of faith and morality. Everything listed here has spiritual or religious undertones and they’re great if you want to do some pondering after you watch. (A side note: While some would be great for a family movie night, not all…