Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

politics

  • The sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church has caused a great deal of speculation and fighting–ideological, political, theological–and all (theoretically) for the betterment of the church. A new study, which I expect to do little to squash the fighting and speculating, attempts to make good PR for the Roman church by countering the…

  • In 2008, we were # 1. In 2009, we became #2. In 2010, we dropped to #3 in the world. In just two years, we went from playing world leader to catch up with China and Germany in the alternative energy market.  As Gov. Jennifer Granholm highlights in this piece for the Huffington Post.  Personally,…

  • Conversations about proposed funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and recent incidents with leadership, including high-profile resignations has brought a surprising amount of attention to PBS and NPR, the television and radio components of the Corporation.  One of the central topics is whether or not the organization could survive any funding cut (not…

  • Of course there is a lot that is the same.  Both have income and expenses, set by annual budgets.  Both are deeply affected by the stock market and other investments.  In this simple way, we can all pretend we are in the same boat. But the truth is much different. First, unlike the average family,…

  • Some have spent the better part of the last thirty years describing the dramatic economic shift toward the greater concentration of wealth in the ultra-wealthy, and the adverse effect this has had on the average American.  Some have even chosen to mock this concern in recent years, suggesting that “redistribution of wealth” is something to…

  • My sermon for Epiphany 5A is up here.  The topic is Jesus’s preaching on freedom, law, and Kingdom-life.  It followed the previous week’s discussion of the Beatitudes, called “Blessed“. This week continues the Sermon on the Mount and will be posted next week.  Look for a teaser soon.