The spirit of our culture and (the voice in my head) is pervaded by the phrase 'Really?!' The gospel replaces that phrase with the voice of faith: 'Really!'

The recent pattern of Supreme Court nominations runs counter to the good news of Christianity.

Since my five-year old son has two games each week, I’ve been thinking about TBall. Unless you are contractually obligated (like through being a parent) there really aren’t compelling reasons to go to a TBall game.

Trolling about the internet (where else?) I came across this quote from David Gelernter (via NYTimes columnist Ross Douthat): “Nowness is one of the most important cultural phenomena of the modern age.” That quote got me thinking about nowness.

I’ve been thinking this week about Bobby. I don’t know Bobby. I don’t even know if that’s his real name. But I (and over 2 million other people) have gotten to know Bobby through the singer Ben Folds and Chatroulette.

I’ve been thinking about fitting in. It’s an idea with which most of us can identify. We are people desperate to 'fit in', to belong. We go to great lengths (through the stuff we watch, the clothes we buy, and the things we do) in order to fit in.

I’ve been thinking about the Winter Olympics. At the risk of alienating those of you who don’t follow sports I make back-to back sports-related posts. Although, in my defense, the Olympics are games not sports. There also is anecdotal evidence that the Olympics have wider appeal than traditional sports. In fact, that appeal got me thinking: What is it that makes the Olympics compelling?

I, like most other US Americans not living in New Orleans or Indianapolis, have been thinking today more about the commercials from last night’s Super Bowl than the football.

I’ve been thinking this morning about Martin Luther King, Jr. Actually I’ve been thinking about him since last week when my kindergartener son whispered to me after school, "We learned about Martin Luther King."

With the start of another year, I’ve been thinking about resolutions.

I’ve been thinking about books. Actually, I think about books a lot. That’s part of what pastors are supposed to do, right? Someone visits a pastor with a problem, shares heartfelt vulnerability, and gets handed a book (off a shelf filled with books) and sent on their merry way. Well. . . hopefully that’s not how it works, but sometimes we bibliophilic pastors give that impression.

I’ve been thinking about thanks. With two days left before Thanksgiving, I figure it’s about time I give it some thought.