Halloween. There’s a lot of feelings Christians have about this holiday. I grew up going trick-or-treating, and only stopped because we moved and my parents weren’t sure of the neighborhood. We always decorated the house with Halloween decorations, still had Halloween parties, and even enjoyed It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, ever year. My familyContinue reading “This is Halloween”
Category Archives: Musings
Who Do You Love?
I read the story of the children of Israel and the golden calf the other day, preparing a lesson I was writing for my publisher. It’s pretty incredible. Just a few weeks before, they’d been enslaved in Egypt. Forever. And yet, God performed miracles and signs and wonders–and they escaped to freedom. At the RedContinue reading “Who Do You Love?”
The Visionary Importance of Otter Pops
I am on vacation this week. That may sound easy, but the trouble is vacation is never quite as easy when you’re a pastor. Mostly because there’s this one day of the week that really requires you to actually be there for everything to “work.” Sundays are never easy for pastors to take off. JustContinue reading “The Visionary Importance of Otter Pops”
Being Alive
From one of my favorite composers, a beautiful, truthful lyric on marriage that never fails to move me every time I hear it. Someone to hold you too close. Someone to hurt you too deep. Someone to sit in you chair, To ruin your sleep. Someone to need you too much. Someone to know youContinue reading “Being Alive”
School. Is. Almost. Done.
And I’m glad. I think I dislike the school year more than my kids do. I dislike homework. I dislike studying. I hate quizzes. I dislike reading logs and state capital quizzes. I dislike all of it. I like summer mornings. I like the kids sleeping in. I like waking up to sunshine and goingContinue reading “School. Is. Almost. Done.”
O Vos Omnes
Most people I know today would be surprised to discover that while in college I was part of a very traditional, “high church” style choir called the Biola Chorale. For four years, this group of people were my best friends and it was probably my deep love and involvement in the choir that caused meContinue reading “O Vos Omnes”
Do You Hear the People Sing?
The new film Les Misérables, based on the worldwide musical smash and Victor Hugo’s best-loved novel, is a story of the power grace has to transform and change lives–and the choice we make when faced with forgiveness. The story of Jean Valjean has been adapted many times, and it is an enduring one because ofContinue reading “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
Which Story do You Prefer?
If one film deserves to be hailed as one of the greatest films of this year, it’s the story of Piscine Molitor Patel and Richard Parker. In a film that is beautifully told, wonderfully acted, and visually stunning, we see their powerful, heartbreaking story. Life of Pi is based on the best-selling novel of theContinue reading “Which Story do You Prefer?”
In Despair I Bowed My Head…
I woke up on Friday morning with the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Christmas poem in my head. It is one of my favorite Christmas songs. The words are deep and heartfelt. Unlike many songs associated with the season, it was not written out of a joyful or happy experience. Longfellow had a long historyContinue reading “In Despair I Bowed My Head…”
Thanksgiving: Day 4
I cannot imagine my life without music. God has been gracious to fill my life and world with music since I was a child. My grandfather was a gifted pianist, trumpeteer, and singer. My mother was a great choir director and accompanist, and I learned to appreciate many types of music sitting in front ofContinue reading “Thanksgiving: Day 4”
Duane S. Montague 