Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Culture

What’s going on, who we are, and what the big deal is.

  • Last night I presided over a reaffirmation of marriage for an amazing couple.  Bill and Amy have been married for 20 years, and as they described to me, almost all of it has been wonderful.  But some of it was incredibly rough.  So this was  a really big deal. I was moved by their devotion to one…

  • A New Theme

    I’m testing out a new theme for my blog.  Come take a look and let me know what you think.

  • Elizabeth Kaeton preached the quintessential Advent 4 sermon–about Occupy Wall Street.  Amazing! This has me moved to see a simple idea.  Head on over, read it, and then reflect over that picture of Bishop Packard for a moment.  When you are done, come back and ask yourself the following question: What if, in the midst…

  • With the Iraq Conflict coming to its formal conclusion, it seems a worthy moment to reflect on war. Specifically, how our understanding of what war is has changed. The dictionary will have multiple definitions of war, but I think there are two essential understandings: A situation in which two or more entities publicly, intentionally, and…

  • If you’re out there waging your insurgent campaign to defend Christmas from those that have invaded your holiday and claimed it for their own, apparently throwing Christ in lock-up and using enhanced interrogations against him, I’ve got one simple message to you: Don’t wish me a “Merry Christmas!” Please, for the love of all things…

  • A new discovery of methane gas in the Arctic could spell trouble: Russian scientists have discovered hundreds of plumes of methane gas, some 1,000 meters in diameter, bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are concerned that as the Arctic Shelf recedes, the unprecedented levels of gas released could greatly accelerate global climate change… Keep reading…