The blog of the Rev’d David O. Browder, Rector of St. Thomas’. Law and gospel, grace, pop culture, links to interesting articles and videos.
There are a lot of really smart people in this world. Very smart and very creative. Just think of all the movies, music, stories, shows, and books that have come out of the minds of these smart, talented people. I was thinking the other day about the sheer variety and quality of the many things…
by David Browder Self-righteousness is the greatest problem we face. I really have come to believe that as I’ve studied and thought through the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector over this past week. I believe that if you think about it, you’ll find this is a no-brainer, too. Another unspeakable tragedy happened…
It has been quite a sight seeing the old Lower School and Scottish Arts buildings come down. People with deep ties to our community have watched with sadness and hope as these buildings that hold so many memories have come down. The Middle School is next. That era of life is infused with the powerful…
And they haven’t been for some time. A few years ago, I brought in The National Center for the Development of Boys (which is headquartered at The McCallie School for Boys in Chattanooga, TN) to speak to us at St. Thomas’. The audience almost filled the church — and they were mostly moms of boys.…
by Michelle Graves Six months ago I searched on Google Maps for “Rafiki Foundation Kenya,” after reading about a Christian orphanage and classical school there. You can see on the map the sharp turn in the road there and a photo of the solid steel gate topped with silhouettes of grownups reaching down to hold…
When Geoff Simpson and I led a week of summer camp at Camp Allen, we introduced our campers to science fiction movies from the 1950s. This genre has long been an enthusiasm of mine. Particularly striking, as I consider it, is the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956. In the movie, malevolent aliens…
“Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America The Fourth…
On the last day of school, I had a little fun with our students and their parents. People who attend high-achieving private schools tend to have Type A personalities. I can relate to that because I tend more towards the Type A personality myself. We Type As are very competitive, with lots of self-criticism and…
by David Browder This past Easter Sunday was a glorious one at St. Thomas’. Almost two years after the flood, with the church still awaiting renovation, more people worshipped with us than on any other Easter Sunday in my previous five years as Rector. It is clear that we have a bright future here at…
My identity is no longer defined as being “In Crimson Tide” but “in Christ”. It seems at first like ascetic self-denial but it is really the case that I enjoy other things more. I can now enjoy watching Alabama and not be cast down for two months if we lose to Auburn or Tennessee. Jesus Christ as the proper marker for my identity gives me a healthy relationship to good but lesser things like football, money, relationships, politics, and even family. Being “In Christ” is that from which human flourishing emanates.
