Rev. Stephen Carl
@revsrc.bsky.social
PCUSA Pastor, husband, father, photographer, dog dad; hikes, hopes, reads, writes, dreams, believes
What if children were purposefully taught critical thinking skills and adults intentionally used them? People would have the tools to sort through information and make decisions for themselves. Perhaps then there would be no need to ban books and political propaganda would be useless and obsolete.
July 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
What if children were purposefully taught critical thinking skills and adults intentionally used them? People would have the tools to sort through information and make decisions for themselves. Perhaps then there would be no need to ban books and political propaganda would be useless and obsolete.
The universe is vast.
Wonder is the heart’s hymn of humility, gratitude, and joy.
Wonder is the heart’s hymn of humility, gratitude, and joy.
June 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The universe is vast.
Wonder is the heart’s hymn of humility, gratitude, and joy.
Wonder is the heart’s hymn of humility, gratitude, and joy.
“Is the removal of something in the world enough to liberate us? Is it not as important, perhaps even more important, to add things?
If we want to be free, we will have to affirm, not just deny. Sometimes we will have to destroy, but more often we will need to create”
~Timothy Snyder, On Freedom
If we want to be free, we will have to affirm, not just deny. Sometimes we will have to destroy, but more often we will need to create”
~Timothy Snyder, On Freedom
May 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“Is the removal of something in the world enough to liberate us? Is it not as important, perhaps even more important, to add things?
If we want to be free, we will have to affirm, not just deny. Sometimes we will have to destroy, but more often we will need to create”
~Timothy Snyder, On Freedom
If we want to be free, we will have to affirm, not just deny. Sometimes we will have to destroy, but more often we will need to create”
~Timothy Snyder, On Freedom
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."
~Cicero (106-43 BCE)
~Cicero (106-43 BCE)
May 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."
~Cicero (106-43 BCE)
~Cicero (106-43 BCE)
“The Christian life consists of discernment of (seeing and hearing), reliance upon (reckless and uncalculating dependence), and celebration (ready and spontaneous enjoyment) of the presence of the Word of God in the common life of the world.
~William Stringfellow, A Private and Public Faith
~William Stringfellow, A Private and Public Faith
May 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
“The Christian life consists of discernment of (seeing and hearing), reliance upon (reckless and uncalculating dependence), and celebration (ready and spontaneous enjoyment) of the presence of the Word of God in the common life of the world.
~William Stringfellow, A Private and Public Faith
~William Stringfellow, A Private and Public Faith
"Original sin is that thing about [humanity] which makes [us] capable of conceiving of [our] own perfection and incapable of achieving it.”
~Reinhold Niebuhr
~Reinhold Niebuhr
May 19, 2025 at 6:23 PM
"Original sin is that thing about [humanity] which makes [us] capable of conceiving of [our] own perfection and incapable of achieving it.”
~Reinhold Niebuhr
~Reinhold Niebuhr
Freedom that does not invoke and wed itself to justice and responsibility isn’t freedom, it’s privilege.
Freedom aims for good governance, for without it there is no freedom.
Good governance self-corrects, providing guardrails from corruption and monopolizing power.
Freedom aims for good governance, for without it there is no freedom.
Good governance self-corrects, providing guardrails from corruption and monopolizing power.
May 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Freedom that does not invoke and wed itself to justice and responsibility isn’t freedom, it’s privilege.
Freedom aims for good governance, for without it there is no freedom.
Good governance self-corrects, providing guardrails from corruption and monopolizing power.
Freedom aims for good governance, for without it there is no freedom.
Good governance self-corrects, providing guardrails from corruption and monopolizing power.
“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”
-Plutarch
-Plutarch
May 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”
-Plutarch
-Plutarch
In a theatre a fire started off stage. The clown came out to tell the audience. They applauded thinking it was a joke. He told them again, and they laughed more.
This is the way that the world will be destroyed-amid the universal hilarity of wits and wags who think it is a joke.
-Soren Kierkegaard
This is the way that the world will be destroyed-amid the universal hilarity of wits and wags who think it is a joke.
-Soren Kierkegaard
May 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
In a theatre a fire started off stage. The clown came out to tell the audience. They applauded thinking it was a joke. He told them again, and they laughed more.
This is the way that the world will be destroyed-amid the universal hilarity of wits and wags who think it is a joke.
-Soren Kierkegaard
This is the way that the world will be destroyed-amid the universal hilarity of wits and wags who think it is a joke.
-Soren Kierkegaard
“Man’s [sic] capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”
Reinhold Niebuhr, The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness (1944)
Reinhold Niebuhr, The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness (1944)
April 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
“Man’s [sic] capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”
Reinhold Niebuhr, The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness (1944)
Reinhold Niebuhr, The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness (1944)
The goal of distractive politics isn’t governing, but to capture attention. There’s no intention of solving any issue, just getting ears and eyeballs focused on something other than what matters. What matters? The stuff that those behind the distractive politics don’t want people to see.
April 23, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The goal of distractive politics isn’t governing, but to capture attention. There’s no intention of solving any issue, just getting ears and eyeballs focused on something other than what matters. What matters? The stuff that those behind the distractive politics don’t want people to see.
Blood Moon
Full Lunar Eclipse
March 14, 2025
Full Lunar Eclipse
March 14, 2025
March 15, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Blood Moon
Full Lunar Eclipse
March 14, 2025
Full Lunar Eclipse
March 14, 2025
“Only God can be omnipotent without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. There is no earthly authority so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that it should act without oversight or rule without impediment.”
Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville
March 7, 2025 at 12:16 AM
“Only God can be omnipotent without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. There is no earthly authority so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that it should act without oversight or rule without impediment.”
Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville
“The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colors breaking through.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville
― Alexis de Tocqueville
March 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
“The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colors breaking through.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville
― Alexis de Tocqueville
“Suffering seems to be the only thing strong enough to destabilize our arrogance and our ignorance. I would define suffering as whenever we are not in control. All healthy religion shows us what to do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.“
~Richard Rohr
~Richard Rohr
March 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“Suffering seems to be the only thing strong enough to destabilize our arrogance and our ignorance. I would define suffering as whenever we are not in control. All healthy religion shows us what to do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.“
~Richard Rohr
~Richard Rohr
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."
~John Lewis, 2018
~John Lewis, 2018
February 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."
~John Lewis, 2018
~John Lewis, 2018
LEARNED HELPLESSNESS occurs when an individual faces a continuous negative, uncontrollable situation and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to do so. The PERCEPTION that one has no control elicits a passive response to the harm.
~Psychology Today
~Psychology Today
February 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
LEARNED HELPLESSNESS occurs when an individual faces a continuous negative, uncontrollable situation and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to do so. The PERCEPTION that one has no control elicits a passive response to the harm.
~Psychology Today
~Psychology Today
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
—Theodore Roosevelt, From an editorial written in 1918
—Theodore Roosevelt, From an editorial written in 1918
February 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
—Theodore Roosevelt, From an editorial written in 1918
—Theodore Roosevelt, From an editorial written in 1918
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13
What then is the law that gives freedom?
Love
James 2:12-13
What then is the law that gives freedom?
Love
February 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13
What then is the law that gives freedom?
Love
James 2:12-13
What then is the law that gives freedom?
Love
Reposted by Rev. Stephen Carl
Marketing Jesus: Prayer apps, TV ads, and faith in the digital age
How is faith spread in the digital age? From prayer apps to Super Bowl ads, Patrice Gaines explores the ethics of marketing Jesus in a tech-driven world.
#SuperBowl2025
How is faith spread in the digital age? From prayer apps to Super Bowl ads, Patrice Gaines explores the ethics of marketing Jesus in a tech-driven world.
#SuperBowl2025
Marketing Jesus: Prayer apps, TV ads, and faith in the digital age - The Presbyterian Outlook
Explore the ethics of marketing Jesus in the digital age—from prayer apps to Super Bowl ads, how is tech reshaping faith and evangelism?
buff.ly
February 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Marketing Jesus: Prayer apps, TV ads, and faith in the digital age
How is faith spread in the digital age? From prayer apps to Super Bowl ads, Patrice Gaines explores the ethics of marketing Jesus in a tech-driven world.
#SuperBowl2025
How is faith spread in the digital age? From prayer apps to Super Bowl ads, Patrice Gaines explores the ethics of marketing Jesus in a tech-driven world.
#SuperBowl2025
Stupidity is a more dangerous than malice. One may protest evil. Against stupidity we are defenseless; reasons fall on deaf ears; the stupid person is self satisfied and dangerous, going on attack. To persuade with reason is senseless and dangerous.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters and Papers from Prison
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters and Papers from Prison
February 1, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Stupidity is a more dangerous than malice. One may protest evil. Against stupidity we are defenseless; reasons fall on deaf ears; the stupid person is self satisfied and dangerous, going on attack. To persuade with reason is senseless and dangerous.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters and Papers from Prison
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters and Papers from Prison
STOLPERSTEINE (Stumbling Stone) is the world’s largest decentralised memorial. There are now more than 70,000 “stones” around the world, in 20 languages.
Each plaque begins ‘HERE LIVED,’ followed by the person’s name, date of birth, and fate.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.stolpersteine.eu/en/
Each plaque begins ‘HERE LIVED,’ followed by the person’s name, date of birth, and fate.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.stolpersteine.eu/en/
The Holocaust memorial of 70,000 stones
Michael Friedrichs-Friedländer hand-engraves individual Holocaust fates onto small plaques called Stolpersteine, which constitute the world’s largest decentralised memorial.
www.bbc.com
January 31, 2025 at 2:55 AM
STOLPERSTEINE (Stumbling Stone) is the world’s largest decentralised memorial. There are now more than 70,000 “stones” around the world, in 20 languages.
Each plaque begins ‘HERE LIVED,’ followed by the person’s name, date of birth, and fate.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.stolpersteine.eu/en/
Each plaque begins ‘HERE LIVED,’ followed by the person’s name, date of birth, and fate.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.stolpersteine.eu/en/