What's Tony Thinking

Both Sides Now

May 7, 2024 — In one recent blog I mentioned that the extremes on left and right, which command the attention of the media, have a lot in common. Both are off the deep end. And in another recent blog I suggested that to people who are center or center-right, the violence on college campuses may look a lot... Read More

Some Things That Spoke to Me

May 5, 2024 — Happy Cinco de Mayo. In Mexico Cinco de Mayo isn’t a thing, or so I was told. It’s more of a U.S./ gringo day than it is one in Mexico. Still, enjoy your margarita! Doing a little bit of catching up with magazines and journals that piled up while in Mexico. I came across a couple... Read More

A Few Thoughts From Mexico Now In Seattle

May 2, 2024 — It’s been a lovely time to return to Seattle. Full spring. Everything so green and lush. We’re getting to some things that had been put on hold while we were out of the country as well as reconnecting with family and friends. Good to be away. Good to be home. Last week this time we... Read More

Returning to the U.S.

April 30, 2024 — My two months serving a church in Mexico are at an end. We’re in the process of traveling back to Seattle from San Miguel de Allende. Actually, we’re in the midst of six-hour layover in the Houston Airport. Traveling today can be pretty awful. You reach the end of one long line only to move... Read More

My April 28 Sermon: The Vine and the Branches

April 28, 2024 — Here’s my last sermon, given yesterday, at the Community Church of San Miguel de Allende. To get the video on the church’s you tube channel click here. Below you’ll find the written version. The Vine and the Branches John 15: 1 -8 April 28, 2024 One of my favorite verses in Scripture comes from the... Read More

Weekend, April 27 – 28

April 27, 2024 — Tomorrow is our last Sunday at Community Church of San Miguel. It’s been a good run. And it will be good to get home to the Northwest, to family and friends there. We were in Mexico City this week. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a larger city. Population: 20 million+. How does such a city... Read More

The Liberal/ Conservative Binary Is Useless

April 24, 2024 — For a long time many of us have located ourselves, and others, in terms of a liberal/ conservative binary. Are you a liberal or are you a conservative? Leaning left or right, or somewhere near the center of the spectrum? What’s happened in the last twenty years has rendered this way of construing reality pretty... Read More

The Grammar of the Gospel

April 21, 2024 — Here’s my sermon of April 21, the fourth Sunday of Easter, a.k.a “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Click here to view the video on the youtube channel of the Community Church of San Miguel de Allende. For those of you who prefer reading to watching the written text is below. Next week will be my ninth and... Read More

These Precious Days

April 18, 2024 — These Precious Days by Anne Patchett is the sixth and last book in our book group’s “Aging and Mortality” series. Besides Patchett’s collection of essays, we’ve read The Gift of Aging, which profiled people who were enjoying their older years and living them to the fullest. Basic message: don’t dread getting older, make the most of... Read More

You and Your Adult Children

April 15, 2024 — One of my blogs that really connected for some people was on “Grace in the Family.” In particular the idea that grandparents can be gracious by supporting — not judging and criticizing — the parenting being done by their own adult children. Here’s a juicy excerpt: “What can happen with grandparents is that they become... Read More

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