Life on the lunatic fringe

I was interviewed last week; for the first and probably last time.

I had no more than 5 minutes to prep but I think I'm happy about what I said (and what was included).
But apparently my views qualify me as lunatic fringe. Christendom is apparently now the intellectual equivalent of drunk anarchism and the political philosophy of crumpetism. Islamism is wrong and abhorrent but even it has more philosophical merit than the dominant secularist socialism.

I think that my views, held by most of the western world for most of modern history, scarcely qualify as lunatic fringe. I don't know what the motives were for including my position in this article, but it doesn't take much brain power to figure out that the authors want to ridicule the views represented - both by name-calling and association.

Do you think I deserved my place in this list?

Why downrooted?

So why would a pedant like me (not 'I') choose a made-up word for the title of my blog?

My instinct in life has been to find a good opportunity and seek my fortune in a strange and distant land.

That's not how it's worked out though. Commitments, pressures and kindness has meant that staying rooted has made the most sense for me and Adele.

Psalm 1 describes the righteous man as 'like a tree planted by streams of water'. Jesus is the true Israel, the tree into which the Church is grafted. And we are trees ourselves, planted by streams of living water providing our spiritual sustenance.

Sometimes, staying right where you are is the best thing to do.

Given the right location, a tree need only grow deep, thick roots and it will grow tall, strong and healthy.

A blank page

I decided to start blogging from scratch.
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A blank page is inviting; you can colour it however you like.

A blank page is intimidating; it needs lots of work.

A blank page is a relief; previous attempts left behind.

A blank page is dangerous; you alone are responsible for how it's filled.

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Previous blogging has been theology-centred in topic. This time I hope to blog on topics as wide as my curiosity. So expect theology, politics, NFL, music, commuter dynamics and whatever else has recently piqued my interest.

I better start writing.