What's Tony Thinking

Rich Men North of Richmond

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August 22, 2023 — Grace for the Hillbilly Friends, many of you read my blog last week on Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Demon Copperhead, and about her comments in interviews on the book regarding Appalachia and the rural parts of America. That version was picked up by Seattle’s Post Alley, where it got a lot of feedback/ comments. But I wrote a second... Read More

It’s Not a Mystery Why We Are Where We Are

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August 19, 2023 — A little bit longer read for your Sunday . . . David Brooks, in a recent article at the Atlantic, says that for ten years now he’s been obsessed by two questions, “Why are Americans so sad?” and “Why are Americans so mean?” In the article he focuses more on the second question of bad behavior,... Read More

ChatGPT for Sermons?

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August 18, 2023 — Will AI, one form of which is ChatGP’T, produce sermons? Sure. I’ve read several. They weren’t awful. Should preachers turn to ChatGPT to do their sermons? It would be easier for the busy pastor. Why not? I’d say a definite No on this one. Why? Because a preacher’s job is to struggle with the Biblical... Read More

Barbara Kingsolver on the Invisible Americans

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August 15, 2023 — (Note from Tony: Some of you got this content, others got this headline but content from a past blog. Sorry) Barbara Kingsolver is out with a new book, Demon Copperhead. I’ve just begun reading it. The book and awards it has received have given Kingsolver a platform to speak out about the invisible people of... Read More

Barbara Kingsolver on the Invisible Americans

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August 14, 2023 — Barbara Kingsolver is out with a new book, Demon Copperhead. I’ve just begun reading it. The book and awards it has received have given Kingsolver a platform to speak out about the invisible people of rural America. In the British paper, The Guardian, Kingsolver says that people in rural America, where she was raised and lives... Read More

We All Sink, My Sermon for August 13

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August 13, 2023 — We All Sink Matthew 14: 22 – 33 August 13, 2023 Joseph United Methodist Church I want to thank Pastor Beth for the invitation to preach this morning. I appreciate the chance to give my preaching muscles a little workout. Will you join me in prayer as we all listen for God’s word to us... Read More

At Week’s End, August 12

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August 12, 2023 — My capitulation of writing that caught my attention this week has a common theme: the problems of a therapeutic culture, where identity is a constant, never-ending and largely internal project. One caveat, it is important to distinguish therapy and therapeutic culture. Therapy can be important, helpful and healing. In a therapeutic culture no one every... Read More

What Are We That You Should Care for Us?

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August 11, 2023 — The title of this blog is a paraphrase of Psalm 8. Here it is in context, Ps. 8, 3 – 5: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you have established, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for... Read More

Lost in North Dakota and other notes

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August 6, 2023 — Lost in North Dakota. You gotta love church, really you do. Yesterday a guy asked for prayers for his cousin who had “lost her husband in North Dakota.” The guy next to me leans over and says, with complete sincerity, “It’s a really big state.” Suffer. Second church note. I’m preaching this coming Sunday at... Read More

August 4, Another Week Ends

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August 4, 2023 — Wrinkles are cool. Here’s a good line for people my age — and all human beings — from the film critic Helen Andrews in her review on the essence of the movie Barbie: “All the meaning in life comes from the things that give you wrinkles.” Three Strikes and You’re Out? Indictment number 3 for Donald Trump this week. Andrew... Read More