boblarson

It sounds like a harmless invitation: “Take me to church.” But we’re talking about the title to one of the hottest songs in the country, Grammy-nominated no less. You might want to think twice about accepting the offer. Hozier, the Irish sing-songwriter who penned the hit, has a different kind of church in mind – […]

In my previous blog, I pointed out the normalcy of exorcism in the early church, during the first centuries after Christ. (To read Part #1 of this series, CLICK HERE.) That blog quoted from a book entitled The Spirit of Early Christian Thought, by Robert Louis Wilken, professor of the History of Christianity at the

When does worry become anxiety? And when does anxiety become fear? And when does fear become disenabling? When one has scrupulosity. Never heard of it? Theologians have. Psychologists have. Scrupulosity (root word scruples) takes over when an individual has excess, sometimes obsessive-compulsive concerns, often spiritual worries that become overwhelming.  At that point the condition can

In our age of Internet dating a new $5.2 billion industry has arisen, according to The Wall Street Journal (01/17/18), to meet the demand for data on background checks of future mates. Individuals who’ve met suitors online are hiring detectives to find out if their potential spouse has a prison record, bad debts or other

This past week the world has been focused on Paris, where Islamic terrorists murdered 17 people, 12 of them at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper offices. Sunday, world leaders linked arms as million protested the killings. Tuesday, Hebdo released its first issue since the slaughter. As you probably know, the attack of Islamic extremists was provoked

It’s a question I’m asked a lot: “If you get rid of your demons, can they come back?” Well, yes and no. No, if you get delivered and continue to walk with the Lord. Yes, if you return to the same sin that permitted this evil spirit to enter in the first place. I’m not

Mark Discoll, pastor and founder of the hugely successful Mars Hill Church conglomerate, is back. After being deposed amidst accusations of plagiarism and spiritual misconduct, Driscoll has launched a new web site to herald his comeback. He has confessed to past errors of “pride, anger, and a domineering spirit.” My purpose isn’t to evaluate one

All you liberals loosen up, now that I’ve got your attention with my blog title. You conservatives will also be disappointed. DISCLOSURE: I’m not talking about President Obama. Republicans may not be too happy, though, that I’m raising issues about President Ronald Reagan. Before you think I’ve committed the Republican equivalent of blasphemy, look at

The news clipping above is a real news article about a real event in Nigeria. Police jailed a goat on charges of robbery, claiming the animal was actually a human robber who supernaturally morphed himself into a goat to avoid detection. In America, that seems laughable. Not in Nigeria, or most any nation in Africa.

You’d better watch out, you’d better not pout . . . or the Christmas demon may get you. Better known in European (especially Austrian/German) folklore as Krampus, this hideous creature is the anti-St. Nicholas. Just as the fat jolly guy in fiction bestows gifts, Krampus punishes the children who’ve been naughty. Even today he’s still