How do you baptize someone who's 6-foot-11?

See Dwight Howard's other dunking here.

I long to be, in a church by the sea ...

"For more than 15 years, I didn’t go to church (except for lots of visits in my professional capacity). When I was in my early 20s, the Episcopal church I attended regularly split. Factions formed, sides were taken, harsh words were spoken. A spiritual tug of war ensued and left the community in tatters. It was awful, traumatic — the worst that church has to offer."

That's not my story. The only part in common is that I didn't go to church much in my 20s because I worked until 2 a.m. Sundays (Saturday nights). At least, that was my excuse.
The above, rather, is the story of one of my former religion writer colleagues — and I'm stretching the truth to include myself among her ilk, as she was one of the best.

Her tale — here — is worth reading, regardless of what you believe about church.

Cubs turn their backs on Sandberg

It's another frustrating day in Cubville.

I seldom agree with what the Chicago Tribune writes about the Cubs, but this one is right on the mark. Ryno deserved better.

Tribune story

Chicago Tribune photo

Membership has its privileges

Groucho Marx reportedly said: “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.”

When the church is being the church (and not a club), it will have us as members. Isn’t that outrageous?

I'm learning

A few things I’ve learned (so far) as a pastor:

• Speeding into Cornell at 10 o’clock at night is one way to meet the local police. Probably not the best way, however. But we had a nice conversation, I left with a warning, and he departed with a blessing. God is good.


• The children of the community aren’t the “church of the future.” They are the children of today, in need of love, guidance and nurture in this present moment just because.


• Where else besides the church can you find young, old, liberals, conservatives, extroverts, introverts, rich and poor side by side? It’s as if we had made a promise to each other: to have and to hold, for better or worse. Wait, we did make that promise.