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What's Tony Thinking
September 12, 2023 —
Our book group reconvened last Sunday evening, continuing our current series on Climate Change. This month’s book was At Home On An Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on A Changed Earth by the science journalist, Madeline Ostrander. What happens after a climate change related disaster vanishes from the headlines? How do people recover, pick themselves up and... Read More
September 9, 2023 —
Conflict in the Church/Matthew 18: 15 – 35/September 10, 202, A sermon preached at Joseph United Methodist Church, Joseph, Oregon “Conflict in the Church.” Why in the world would a guest preacher bring up and preach on a topic like that? Trust me, it wasn’t my idea. I didn’t pick it. This is the appointed... Read More
September 8, 2023 —
People of the Dog. Turns out Christians are way more likely to own dogs than cats, according to an article in Christianity Today. We have had both, along with a gerbil or two, and at one time, rats (in a cage). At this point, we have neither. Unless you count “grand-dogs and cats,” which are like grandchildren... Read More
September 7, 2023 —
“Generals,” according to an old proverb, “are always prepared to fight the last war.” I’m worried that Joe Biden is prepared to fight the war of 2020, when he emerged as the best alternative to Donald Trump. He knew about governance, he cared about governance. He had a record as an old-style union/labor guy. He... Read More
September 5, 2023 —
I will again be preaching this Sunday at the Methodist Church in nearby Joseph, Oregon. It’s where we worship most Sundays when we are here in the Wallowas. The gospel text for this Sunday, Matthew 18: 15 – 20, is prosaic but urgent. “Prosaic,” in that it lays out a step by step process for... Read More
September 1, 2023 —
August over, hail September. Footballs flying, although if you’re a college football fan you may have no clue as to which collegiate conference your favorite team is now a member. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners, part of the toughest division in baseball, the American League West, are making a run for first place and a return... Read More
August 31, 2023 —
In this age of hyperbole, here is something that actually is amazing. It’s an essay from Ruby LaRoca, who won the high-school essay contest at The Free Press, with this piece called “A Constitution for Teenage Happiness.” Ruby recommends reading old books, memorizing poetry and inviting senior citizens to parties. (Which of course made me... Read More
August 30, 2023 —
It’s a gorgeous day here in the Wallowa Mountains. Sunny and warm, but not too warm. Temperature of about 70, which raises the question: to swim or not to swim in the Lake? I will probably opt in as the forecast for days ahead says cooler and maybe rain. Autumn is in the air. What... Read More
August 28, 2023 —
Thinking of re-naming this blog, “Notes of a Culture Wars CO,” that is, “Conscientious Objector,” for those born since 1970. I was a CO back then, during Vietnam. Last week I cited to the song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” by Oliver Anthony, because my editor at Mockingbird has spliced it into an article of... Read More
August 25, 2023 —
In my last blog on “Flirting” and the broken relationships between men and women, I quoted a couple folks on how awful men are. “Men are trash,” wrote one. And another, “Men do not love you, okay? So stop thinking that they do. They tolerate you. They lust you. That’s it.” No doubt these folks... Read More