Stained Glass Bluegrass Blog
Life May Be Dramatic, But Is Not Finally Tragic
Welcome to Stained-glass Bluegrass, a blog of the Rev. Dr. Alan Baughcum. Here, I explore current events and contribute to the contemporary discourse with insights about those event’s connection to faith.
We are together on this journey of love and devotion to our sovereign and loving God — please share your thoughts as we move onward. I welcome ideas and information that is informative, educational, and conducive to building community and caring for our planet. Language should be respectful of God’s creation and creatures.
It Is Official: I Am Old!
I shoulda stayed home. The thought of climbing Tumbledown Mountain should have flashed “danger, danger!!” The name itself … Tumbledown … should have been enough of a warning. But I needed to exercise and I am tired of my usual routes on the flat in my...
Finally, a word from the would-be writer…
Not that anyone was waiting, or that the world was facing a shortage of words … do you feel these days that there are too many words? All those medical notices about the Coronavirus … from your grocer! From the electric company! From the gas company! From everyone and...
Sad News: The Death of Larry Hurtado
I recently learned of the death of Larry Hurtado. It hit me hard because I had greatly enjoyed his book, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Larry Hurtado was an American New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, and Emeritus...
Just when you thought it could not get worse …
I have been reading recently about the experience of slavery in this country. Frederic Law Olmsted (yes, the guy who designed Central Park in New York City), wrote a couple of books about his journeys through the American South prior to the Civil War. I am about...
Honoring those who have served in our military services…
Veterans Day, prompted me to remember and give thanks for the military service of my father, uncles, cousins and friends. They stood in the breach and protected our lives, our property, and our liberty. Americans owe all of those who have served a great debt. ...
My Special Place
By: Evan Bodin Have you ever felt the hot white sand, some warm sun, and the freezing Atlantic waters? If you have, maybe you’ve been to Popham Beach, Maine which is my special place! At Popham Beach, you arrive to a mile-long beach filled with many seagulls. You...
Unexpected grace comes to loving parents…
Please go to Christy's blog about Landon's Gift... a wonderful story of unexpected grace coming to loving parents... Landon's Gift Again, our day began at three a.m. with the arrival of another focal seizure, the first of two, this one several minutes long....
Lobsters and Racism
Those new to lobsters are likely to think that they are all of one color: red. Not so! There are blue, yellow, spotted, brown, olive, calico, and cotton-candied-color lobsters. However, when steamed they all turn red because that is the most stable pigment in a...
Prayer for Maine Legislature
On May 28, 2019, Alan Baughcum offered a prayer to open the proceedings of the Maine State House of Representatives. Holy One, On this morning following Memorial Day we are acutely aware of those blessed few who have given their lives to defend the...
Devotional
Did you know that there are now scholarly studies of popular music? Who knew? A recent study of popular music compared the sentiments expressed in music from the 1950s onward. The news is not good. Joy is down 38%. Anger is up 232%. Disgust is up by 128%. I have...