Monthly Archives: July 2025

How Should We Experience Art? Together!

Posted on July 11, 2025 by mitchteemley

Together literally means “to gather.” That’s what makes public art public, people experiencing art together. All art invites us to come and see it. But public art comes to us. It invites us to walk around it, or under it, to climb … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment and Popular Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

What’s Currently Popping in My Head

Posted on July 10, 2025 by mitchteemley

According to my About page, Thursdays are about “Whatever pops into my head.” So here’s a virtual gaggle of the kind of deep stuff that’s currently popping in my head: Why can’t my wife understand that “too much cheese” (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment and Popular Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Sharing the Redeeming Power of Love

Posted on July 9, 2025 by mitchteemley

Two Delightful Summer Stories! Preachers, teachers and drama groups: Are you looking for fun, family-oriented illustrations to set up talks on the redeeming power of love? If so, these may be just the thing! To learn more, or to order the … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Music and Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How I Accidentally Became a Buddhist

Posted on July 8, 2025 by mitchteemley

Illustration by Jenn Wei My Real Memoir I had time again. Which was bad. Time was my enemy. Having time meant constantly obsessing over controlling my thoughts. I’d felt almost normal during rehearsals for my musical Adam and Eve. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

What Are We to Do With Time?

Posted on July 7, 2025 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week Time demands too much of our time It pretends to be indifferent, yet creates chaos when we ignore it It demands our attention, and yet keeps to itself Only when we dream are we free from … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Poetry, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Our Call to Free the Oppressed

Posted on July 6, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Is not this the fast which I have chosen: To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to free the oppressed and break every yoke?” ~Isaiah 58:6 Note: Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a founding member … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

True Independence Comes From Within

Posted on July 5, 2025 by mitchteemley

Many people are far from independent. So much of their freedom to choose where, how, and even if they live has been curtailed. So it’s important that we pursue independence for all people everywhere. But it’s also important for us to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

“O Beautiful for Spacious Skies…”

Posted on July 4, 2025 by mitchteemley

Today, America celebrates its 249th official birthday. So it seemed like a good time to share some photos themed on that line from “America the Beautiful.” My wife and I took all but of few of these in the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

Fame Fades. But Flames Spread.

Posted on July 3, 2025 by mitchteemley

A Filmmaker’s Journal “Fame! I’m gonna live forever!” Those lyrics are from the title song of a once-famous movie that, ironically, most people under 30 have never even heard of. Five years ago, Healing River, my first feature film as … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment and Popular Culture, Movies, Music and Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

July the 4th is Almost Here!

Posted on July 2, 2025 by mitchteemley

Preachers, teachers and group leaders: If you’re looking for a brief-but-powerful illustration about what patriotism means, especially for people of faith, my 2 1/2 minute video may just be it. In the film, four ordinary people remind us it means … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment and Popular Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Music and Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments