Steve Brown Etc.

I hate Easter, with a passion.

Renée Altson April 25th, 2011

I hate Easter, with a passion.

It could be rightly assumed that I hate all the trappings of Easter, which I do. I certainly recognize the joy that children get from their plastic eggs, the great hunt, and gobs of trinkets and candy. Then there is the fun of shopping for new clothes–particularly those lovely dresses for little girls, frequently strung with barbaric beads, cheap lace, and crafted out of polyester, the ultimate in uncomfortable, itchy, and ugly mate … (Read More)

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The Guest Room

The Devil in Pew Number Seven – Rebecca N. Alonzo on SBE

Erik Guzman April 22nd, 2011

Rebecca Nichols Alonzo never felt safe as a child. The devil in pew number seven made sure of that. He stalked and terrorized her family until one Easter weekend an armed man burst into her kitchen and shot her parents right in front of her.

(If you're on the front page of the site, click "Read More" to see audio player options.)

If anyone had reason to harbor hatred and seek revenge, it would be Rebecca, but she tells a very different story in her book … (Read More)

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Steve Brown Etc.

Why We Call This Friday GOOD

Susan Isaacs April 15th, 2010

I grew up in the Lutheran church. Easter Sunday was wonderful, but by the time we got to church, Jesus was already alive, up and at 'em. Our church did have a Maundy Thursday and Good Friday service. But when I was in high school: the holiest thing was to attend a Calvary Chapel Easter Sunrise Service. They played Keith Green, Chuck Smith preached for like five hours, and my butt froze flat on a football stadium bench. I mostly remember going to Denny's afte … (Read More)

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The Guest Room

Finding the Good Stuff: Discovering The Christian Year

Michael Spencer March 17th, 2008

I grew up in the 1960's in a small city in Western Kentucky among fundamentalist Baptists who were sure their kind were the only Christians on the planet. My ignorance of the broader Christian world was too abysmal to be described with normal adjectives.

When I became aware of other kinds of Christians- around 1972- I was frightened of them. Methodists actually scared me. My best friend was an Episcopalian. He came to my church all the time. I would have sooner ask … (Read More)

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The Guest Room

Lighten Up and Rejoice!

Steve Brown April 8th, 2007

It's Easter and I like Easter for a number of reasons that aren't necessarily religious.

For instance, the Easter season doesn't last six months and there aren't any Easter carols for the malls to play as I fight the crowds buying Easter presents while wondering who I've forgotten. I'm quite happy that, at least so far, the Easter Bunny (unlike Santa) isn't bigger than Jesus and the Easter tree hasn't caught on. Not only that, I h … (Read More)

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