Easter – A Lesson on Friendship

Posted on April 1, 2024 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.  She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.  But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.   Fr Steven Rindahl
~ Mark 16:9–11

“She was there at the beginning of his ministry. And she was there at the end. She was there when they were following him in cheering throngs. And she was there when they were taking his life, dashing it against the stones of temple and state, turning on him, jeering him, shouting for his death, Continue reading →

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Is Mary the New Eve?

Posted on June 7, 2023 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

I recently read an article written by a Protestant theologian explaining the salvific role of Eve.  As I read it, the thing that stood out to me was the author’s dismissal of Eve being the foreshadowing of Mary – just as Adam foreshadows Jesus.  Eve and Adam both had their roles to play in the Garden.  Both Eve and Adam failed in their roles.  Both of those failures had to be reversed for salvation.  Although the author acknowledged the reality that Jesus is the new Adam, he rejected the idea that Mary is the new Eve.  This short review provides a couple quotes from the journal article and then demonstrates the direct parallels to the author’s points about Eve, which are found in Mary.  The concludes with one bonus point – alluded to by the author but not Continue reading →

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Talking Past Each Other

Posted on July 4, 2022 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

Somewhat recently I was engaged in what started as an inquiry and ended up morphing into not quite an argument – but certainly a terse conversation.  It started with my question of how a word could best be interpreted from its original language and then used in a modern setting.  The other individual involved referred me back to the US translation and an article about what it meant in the context it was used.  The trouble is, I knew the translation and the use in context.  I was looking for the best way to interpret the term for a modern (the meaning of the original usage is rarely observed anymore), not in context, listener/reader.  The other individual kept referring me back to original meaning and context, and I kept pressing my question about the modern not in context listener/reader.  It was an excellent example of what is commonly referred to as “talking past each other.”  I am sure it was Continue reading →

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Consent

Posted on January 11, 2022 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

In his book No Man Is an Island (originally published in 1955), Thomas Merton writes “Although in the end we alone are capable of experiencing who we are,… [w]e learn to live by living together with others, and by living like them – a process which has disadvantages as well as blessings.”[1]

This brief observation contains multiple important implications for how we should strive to live our lives.  Stretching fairly far back into human history, the idea of personal autonomy is a subject that has gained a lot of traction.  Let us look at two “hot button” issues as illustrations of the subject at hand. Continue reading →

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Ash Wednesday 2021

Posted on February 17, 2021 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

Internet is more off than on currently due to the winter conditions in Texas causing major infrastructure disruptions.

That has motivated this post during a “Quick get online while the internet is running” post — EDIT – From the start of typing this out to attempting to post, the internet went down again. Continue reading →

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Eartha Kitt — Black Little Angels – Angelitos Negros

Posted on February 13, 2021 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

 

This was posted on my Facebook Page some time ago and I thought at the time I should put it here as a blog post but never did.  It came to mind this morning so I am creating the post before procrastination gets me again.
—

A friend posted the link Continue reading →

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What the World Needs Now is…

Posted on July 4, 2020 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

In 1965 Jackie DeShannon sand “What the World Needs Now is Love.”

With the opening lyrics of:
“What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing Continue reading →

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Another Look at the Lord’s Prayer

Posted on July 4, 2020 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

Some time ago my mind was drawn to a connection between this passage from James and the Lord’s Prayer.

James 2:14–24 (ESV):
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  Continue reading →

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Are You Brave Enough?

Posted on January 31, 2020 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

Watch out! The Lord's Prayer will ruin your life

Are you brave enough to pray the Lord’s Prayer?  Do you think that is a strange question?  Most people do when they hear it, but it is a legitimate question.  In the Lord’s Prayer, we obligate ourselves to some pretty important conditions and responsibilities.  To pray the Lord’s Prayer honestly and with integrity takes some courage.  Keep reading if you want to know what I mean – and then decide if you are still brave enough to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Continue reading →

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How a Rosary Returned Me to Prayer

Posted on August 23, 2019 by the Rev'd Dr SG Rindahl

People of faith are supposed to pray every day.  How many do?  I do not know, but I would wager a hefty bet that, of the number of people claiming to be people of faith, only a small percentage of the total pray daily.  Over the years I have been in many conversations with people who all make similar claims – I do not know how to pray, OR I cannot pray.

I am sympathetic to this feeling as I have frequently felt the same way.  I have prayed Continue reading →

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