Mark Olson

I have a small request.Tomorrow my (far) better half is going to have a small procedure at the Hospital. She will be there overnight for observation after the procedure. It’s not an emergency and not very risky but if you could remember her (Jill) in your prayers I’d appreciate . . . . Continue Reading »

Much discussion has been had by Christians today (and in past ages I’d imagine) of the role of the Christian should take in the public square, especially in a modern multicultural democracy. People speak derisively of a Christian ghetto and/or the consequences of withdrawal. Others promote . . . . Continue Reading »

Well, that faith/works discussion seemed to steer away from rancor and defenestration and held nothing but honest discussion. So ... why not touch on other Catholic/Protestant cans o’ worms? After all this is an evanglical blog hosted on a Catholic site. If this is not a place to discuss the . . . . Continue Reading »

In the In the First Circle: The First Uncensored Edition, there is a striking scene that I’d like to highlight. Most of the characters in the book inhabit one of the Moscow Sharaskas in the early 50s. A Sharaska was a special prison camp, unlike the work camps, the conditions of these camps . . . . Continue Reading »

Now I will admit, having been a Christian for a somewhat short time as an adult, I’ve some unfamiliarity with the ins and outs of Christian controversy. Jared points tangentially to one which has puzzled me quite a bit. So I thought I’d put the question to the chorus here.Protestants and . . . . Continue Reading »

Well, one benefit of excess time in airports and planes ... is I’m getting some sleeping and a lot of reading done. I’ve finished the new uncensored In the First Circle by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and  The Unlearned Lessons Of the Twentieth Century by Chantal Delsol. The latter of . . . . Continue Reading »

A number of posts recently have been touching on the subject of e-Church or having a virtual parish community.Virtual worship services lack the following features: Sacrifice —-  A the fundamental aspect of liturgy is sacrifice. The service is our offering to God and part of that sacrifice . . . . Continue Reading »

A question ... weekdays I produce this link post at my blog ... and I was copying it here with the idea it might stimulate discussions ... but in light of Joe’s recent post that Evangel posts should have lasting relevance ... and much of these links are topical and on current events that leads . . . . Continue Reading »

Last weekend our parish celebrated an ecclesiastical birthday of sorts* and I’d like to share some thoughts in the wake of that event. How did we commemorate this event, that is besides the obligatory brunch?The answer: With a memorial service devoted to the memory of all members of our parish . . . . Continue Reading »

Meta-links, Ben Myers has a bunch of links to good reading. Jews in uniform ... outside Israel. A warning to the West. Georgia on Russia and the Ukraine. On fasting and the spiritual life. On Ms Dunn and the Mao thing. A physicist on the brain. The story behind a song. Finding evil in gender, heh. . . . . Continue Reading »