What's Tony Thinking

A Treat for Your Weekend

January 23, 2025 — On Tuesday of this week, Bishop Mariann Budde entreated newly inaugurated President Trump to “have mercy.” (I kind of wish that she had said, “God is merciful, what’s your problem?,” but whatever.) Anyhow, on the theory that most all of us are in need of mercy and grace at this point in time (as at... Read More

Trump Had a Chance to Do the Right Thing and Failed

January 22, 2025 — The thing that worried me most about Donald Trump is his lack of regard for the law or for the rule of law. His commutation of the sentences of virtually all the January 6 convicted rioters confirms those fears. He could have, as his Vice-President, J. D. Vance, said he “obviously would” distinguish between violent... Read More

Inaugurations and Augury

January 18, 2025 — It was 17 degrees on January 20, 1961, the day John F. Kennedy was inaugurated. There had been snow the night before and six to ten inches still lay on the sidewalks on Pennsylvania Avenue as work crews shoveled away. Along with several of my buddies from our Boy Scout troop in Arlington, Virginia, I... Read More

News and Upcoming Events

January 16, 2025 — Hey friends, we’ve enjoyed a nice jump in new subscribers as the New Year has begun. If that’s you, welcome. Glad you’re here. Hope you’re enjoying the posts, and that you might forward some to friends and invite them to join us. If you’ve been with us for a time, or a long time, please... Read More

Neo-Liberalism and The Church

January 14, 2025 — In my blog wrapping up 2024 I noted that my favorite non-fiction book of 2024 was historian Gary Gerstle’s, The Rise and Fall of the Neo-Liberal Order: America and the World in the Free Market Era. It’s a terrific book, which I strongly recommend. Gerstle explores neo-liberalism’s roots in post-WWII Europe. While starting there, neo-liberalism... Read More

Where You Sit in Church

January 12, 2025 — Do you sit in the same place in church every Sunday? If you do, I’m here to say, don’t feel bad about that. Some might call it mindless habit or even being in a rut. But the people in the know have a really terrific term for this. It is, “reducing your cognitive load.” A... Read More

At Week’s End, January 10

January 10, 2025 — Well, we now know what “Make America Great Again” means, though it seems that the more accurate term would be “Make America Greater.” Add more square miles, thousands and thousands of them. Like Canada and Greenland and at least the Panama Canal part of Panama. Probably don’t want Panama itself as it’s full of brown... Read More

Do/ Be More! Or Maybe Not?

January 7, 2025 — I’m hearing a common theme in things I’m reading and listening to from thoughtful people trying to make sense of life today. They point out the pervasive and relentless, even cruel, imperatives we now live with, live under: “Do More,” “Be More,” “Self-Optimize,” “Get Control/ Be in Control of Your Life,” “Accomplish More in Less... Read More

Onomatopoeia Day

January 5, 2025 — I’ve always loved the word “epiphany.” It is one of those words that sounds like what it means, which is called “onomatopoeia,” another fun word to say. Epiphany means “manifestation,” “revealing,” “a moment of insight.” Don’t you think it pops from your lips and out of our mouth just like that? E-pif-a-nee! Epiphany! Tomorrow, January... Read More

Then and Now

December 29, 2024 — I’ve been thinking a lot about the reaction — well, my reaction — to Trump’s wins in 2016 and 2024. Very different this time than eight years ago. I suspect I’m not alone. Then I was, as the Brit’s say, “gobsmacked.” Synonyms run to the “S” section of the alphabet: shocked, surprised, staggered, stupefied. Also... Read More

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