Richard Francis
@revrichard73.bsky.social
Semi-retired Presbyterian minister; long-time guitar player; Carroll County’s foremost expert on Jane Austen and John Calvin.
“Discipleship doesn't begin by seeing ourselves as sinners. Anyone can do that. That's why we hide. Discipleship begins by seeing ourselves as Jesus sees us.
January 9, 2026 at 9:03 PM
“Discipleship doesn't begin by seeing ourselves as sinners. Anyone can do that. That's why we hide. Discipleship begins by seeing ourselves as Jesus sees us.
From today’s reading:
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence. - Psalm 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence. - Psalm 11:5
January 8, 2026 at 9:53 PM
From today’s reading:
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence. - Psalm 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence. - Psalm 11:5
This is the text of an email I sent today to my senators and representatives. It may not do any good, but I had to say something:
January 6, 2026 at 8:05 PM
This is the text of an email I sent today to my senators and representatives. It may not do any good, but I had to say something:
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Merriam-Webster online's word of the day is "grift."
December 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Merriam-Webster online's word of the day is "grift."
It’s ironic that W*lm*rt is using the Grinch to try and convince us that Christmas does in fact come from a store.
December 8, 2025 at 3:28 AM
It’s ironic that W*lm*rt is using the Grinch to try and convince us that Christmas does in fact come from a store.
Say what you will about Taylor Swift, she knows how to turn a phrase. In the song “Elizabeth Taylor” from “The Life of a Showgirl,” she sings, “What could you possibly give to the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?”
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Say what you will about Taylor Swift, she knows how to turn a phrase. In the song “Elizabeth Taylor” from “The Life of a Showgirl,” she sings, “What could you possibly give to the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?”
Reposted by Richard Francis
Excellent speech by @charliejane.bsky.social about imagination in service to society. Great stuff.
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
November 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Excellent speech by @charliejane.bsky.social about imagination in service to society. Great stuff.
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
The mall at Sioux City Iowa has a store that offers temporary tattoos and permanent jewelry.
I’m so confused…
I’m so confused…
November 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The mall at Sioux City Iowa has a store that offers temporary tattoos and permanent jewelry.
I’m so confused…
I’m so confused…
The way we make change is just as important as the change we make. - Valerie Kaur, quoted by MaryAnn McKibben Dana, in Hope: a User's Manual, p.84
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The way we make change is just as important as the change we make. - Valerie Kaur, quoted by MaryAnn McKibben Dana, in Hope: a User's Manual, p.84
Reposted by Richard Francis
Why I Will Not Be Using AI to Write My Sermons: An encouragement to resist using AI for any part of your sermon writing process https://www.reyes-chow.com/an-ai-sermon-is-just-that-artifical/
Why I Will Not Be Using AI to Write My Sermons
An encouragement to resist using AI for any part of your sermon writing process
www.reyes-chow.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Why I Will Not Be Using AI to Write My Sermons: An encouragement to resist using AI for any part of your sermon writing process https://www.reyes-chow.com/an-ai-sermon-is-just-that-artifical/
Our attitude of near loathing toward the homeless and those on welfare…shows that we overly idealize material success in the United States. The prophets have a way of recognizing victim blame and scapegoating long before the rest of us—
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Our attitude of near loathing toward the homeless and those on welfare…shows that we overly idealize material success in the United States. The prophets have a way of recognizing victim blame and scapegoating long before the rest of us—
I see one of the Church Fathers has a new side hustle.
November 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I see one of the Church Fathers has a new side hustle.
"It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world." - Granny Weatherwax in A Hatful of Sky by Terry Pratchett, p.391
November 2, 2025 at 12:13 AM
"It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world." - Granny Weatherwax in A Hatful of Sky by Terry Pratchett, p.391
Joy is to fun what the deep sea is to a puddle. - Terry Pratchett, A Hatful of Sky
November 2, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Joy is to fun what the deep sea is to a puddle. - Terry Pratchett, A Hatful of Sky
When people are engaged in something they are not proud of, they do not welcome witnesses. In fact, they come to believe the witness causes the trouble. - John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley (1962)
October 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
When people are engaged in something they are not proud of, they do not welcome witnesses. In fact, they come to believe the witness causes the trouble. - John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley (1962)
To receive God's forgiveness and tender love is, in fact, to receive God's infinity in little doses, which might just be called days or hours. You cannot prove them or account for having experienced them; they just add up as you get older, if you are receptive.
October 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
To receive God's forgiveness and tender love is, in fact, to receive God's infinity in little doses, which might just be called days or hours. You cannot prove them or account for having experienced them; they just add up as you get older, if you are receptive.
Oscar Wilde wrote, “When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.” If that’s true, then Taylor Swift must be in accord with herself, judging by the headlines of two reviews of The Life of a Showgirl:
October 6, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Oscar Wilde wrote, “When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.” If that’s true, then Taylor Swift must be in accord with herself, judging by the headlines of two reviews of The Life of a Showgirl:
“My father told me: worship gold, and you'll never feel you have enough of it, and you'll feel angry and weak and frightened your entire life. He said it was a terrible curse, to love something you'll never have enough of." - Katherine Rundell, “The Poisoned King”
October 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM
“My father told me: worship gold, and you'll never feel you have enough of it, and you'll feel angry and weak and frightened your entire life. He said it was a terrible curse, to love something you'll never have enough of." - Katherine Rundell, “The Poisoned King”
“The reason why so many examples of the grace of God contribute nothing to our profit, and fail in edifying our faith, is, that as soon as we have begun to make them the subjects of our consideration,
October 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
“The reason why so many examples of the grace of God contribute nothing to our profit, and fail in edifying our faith, is, that as soon as we have begun to make them the subjects of our consideration,
The human creature is such a deceptively simple thing to look at. You can watch someone peel an orange or trip up a flight of stairs, and forget that inside they are both strange and infinite.
September 28, 2025 at 2:58 AM
The human creature is such a deceptively simple thing to look at. You can watch someone peel an orange or trip up a flight of stairs, and forget that inside they are both strange and infinite.
People who are determined to love their enemies are the freest and, in some ways, the most powerful people in the world. They set their own agenda, and no one can distract them from it. - David P. Gushee, The Moral Teachings of Jesus
September 26, 2025 at 9:03 PM
People who are determined to love their enemies are the freest and, in some ways, the most powerful people in the world. They set their own agenda, and no one can distract them from it. - David P. Gushee, The Moral Teachings of Jesus
Reposted by Richard Francis
Me when I have a new comic out about radio telescopes on the moon.
September 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Me when I have a new comic out about radio telescopes on the moon.
I’m trying to learn how to play and sing Taylor Swift’s “Innocent,” one of those songs that turns out to be more difficult than it sounds.
September 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I’m trying to learn how to play and sing Taylor Swift’s “Innocent,” one of those songs that turns out to be more difficult than it sounds.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. - Robert Louis Stevenson
September 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. - Robert Louis Stevenson
I just finished this. Outstanding as usual.
Tyrant Lizard Queen will be stomping your way next year, so it’s a good time to get into When the Earth Was Green if you haven’t already. 🌱
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
bookshop.org
September 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I just finished this. Outstanding as usual.