Author Archives: salooper57

Unknown's avatar

About salooper57

Husband, father, pastor, follower. I am a disciple of Jesus, learning how to do life from him. I read, write, walk, play a little guitar, enjoy my family.

A rose by any other name

Posted on August 29, 2015 by salooper57

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Those are of course Juliet’s lines in Act II of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. If only Romeo’s last name were something other … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, In the News, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A rich and lasting heritage

Posted on August 22, 2015 by salooper57

I was a little anxious. I was guest speaker at our church’s youth group, sitting before a crowd of teenagers who had been encouraged to ask any question they wanted. They asked really good questions: Why does God allow suffering? … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Lifestyle, Marriage and Family, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The most difficult field of study

Posted on August 15, 2015 by salooper57

The biblical book of Psalms contains 150 poems or praises (151 in the Orthodox Church) and has often been referred to as the songbook of the Church. Indeed, in some times and places, the psalms were the only songs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be careful not to stare into the wrong eyes

Posted on August 8, 2015 by salooper57

I was in the Istanbul airport this summer, standing at Passport Control, while a uniformed officer went through my papers. He was scowling. He looked at my passport picture, then at me, then back at my papers. I couldn’t tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Church, Faith, Lifestyle, Marriage and Family, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s up to us to change the political climate

Posted on August 1, 2015 by salooper57

It feels like we’re standing on the shoreline, watching a storm building in the west. Another general election is on the horizon, the rhetoric is heating up, and accusations are beginning to fall like thunderbolts on the talk shows and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, In the News, Lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

We were made that way

Posted on July 25, 2015 by salooper57

Lady Gaga sings about Mary Magdalene, the friend and disciple of Jesus. Katy Perry refers to the biblical hero Esther and writes about being called and chosen. The Clash refers to the floods of God, the walls of Jericho and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Discontent is a two-edged sword

Posted on July 18, 2015 by salooper57

Each year the Gallup organization polls people from 120 countries around the world to find out if they are satisfied with the freedom they have to choose what to do with their lives. In 2006, the U.S. ranked as one … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, In the News, Lifestyle, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on July 15, 2015 by salooper57

If you read my blog, you know it’s pretty much the same old thing. The subjects might vary, but the style is … Shayne. I write about ideas, about God, and about culture. I’m fascinated by the place that ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A brief defense of long marriages

Posted on July 11, 2015 by salooper57

I stood next to my wife and below us, on the counter, was a card-sized envelope with my first name written in her hand. Its purpose totally escaped me. “What’s this for?” I asked. She answered by saying, “Happy anniversary!” … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Lifestyle, Marriage and Family, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

How to pray in times like these

Posted on July 3, 2015 by salooper57

In the light of recent events in the news – the ISIS threat, the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, the continuing erosion of religious freedom, and the slaughter of nine Christians at a Bible study in a South Carolina … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, In the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment