Tag Archives: sin

Halloween Is Almost Here!

Posted on October 30, 2025 by mitchteemley
Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Religion/Faith, Videos | Tagged , , , , , | 11 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

My Hunger for an Abiding Love

Posted on July 1, 2025 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir Monday. Everyone wanted to know the name of “the lady from Brooklyn” who’d hijacked the opening of my play the previous weekend. She’d pulled a prop door over on herself. Screamed. Run out of the theatre. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Are All of Our Heroes Hypocrites?

Posted on June 19, 2025 by mitchteemley

Today is Juneteenth in my country. President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally became a reality when the last slaves were set free on June 19th, 1865. It’s not surprising that the annual celebration of “Juneteenth” began there. Or that it eventually … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Are We Nothing More Than Blades of Grass?

Posted on January 26, 2025 by mitchteemley

A personal paraphrase of Psalm 90 Father You have always been our home Before the mountains were thrust up Or the earth itself was shaped You were our God Yet at your word we turn to dust For time has no … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

100 Years Ago (But It Could Have Been Today)

Posted on January 22, 2025 by mitchteemley

In 1925, Westminster Cathedral’s newly-established canon preached a message on contemporary sins. Reflecting on the traditional “7 deadlies” and upon his work among the poor, Canon Donaldson suggested these 7 Social Sins were the challenge of his time. They might … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Sin Is No Laughing Matter

Posted on July 31, 2024 by mitchteemley

Well, OK, it kind of is – but only when it’s exposed for how foolish it is! Pastors, teachers, and church drama groups: These two scenes of mine about sin and repentence have been performed throughout North America. Both are … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

“They” Are Us

Posted on July 15, 2024 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week We love to see the privileged taken down. That’s our way with idols: first we worship them, then we grind them down to make new gods. Does anyone have a get-out-of-scandal-free card? Yes, the poor and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

The Girl in the Shadow

Posted on July 9, 2024 by mitchteemley

Image by kimerajam My Real Memoir The best part of the summer, my epic strep throat notwithstanding, was behind me. I repeated my Shakespeare class with a professor who was dull but, unlike the previous one, at least recognized me as … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Popular Idea, Unpopular Word

Posted on June 19, 2024 by mitchteemley

“Sins often masquerade as virtues. And pride is the cleverest chameleon of all.” ~The Wishing Map “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.” ~Mark Twain               (Sinner) “They won’t let me in, Lord, because I am … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith, The Wishing Map | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments