Ezra's Essays

Category: Christianity (General)

  • HOW I BECAME A PROTESTANT

    It would be a great source of regret it any reader were to conclude from the title of this essay, that this is a religious piece. Banish the thought. Quite to the contrary, this vignette is an Army story. When we reach the latter stages of this inquiry, there will be a denouement that will…

  • BECAUSE THE RIVER’S WET BUT BEALE STREET DONE GONE DRY – W.C. Handy

    Last year, the United States Congress voted to declare the year 2003 the “Year of the Blues.” This took place while unemployment benefits ran out, while the U. S. was snarling at Iraq, while most of the Congress was seeking re-election and while the economy was limping along. But in the end, as someone who…

  • A SYLLOGISTIC LAMENT FOR A WOUNDED PREACHER

    In my longer than expected life, a minuscule amount of time has been directed toward the peccadilloes of preachers and priests caught in sexual scandals. I am not a Christian and do not intend to become one. Nor do I intend to become a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, et. al. I assume…

  • AN OVERABUNDANCE OF CARDIAC CARNALITY

    (AS DIAGNOSED BY BROTHER TONY AND PREACHER FITZWATER) I have toyed with calling this essay “An Affair of the Heart” but that title would have been misleading. This is not a love story in any respect. It is a medical matter with ecclesiastical overtones. This combination of factors makes it a matter of major significance.…

  • TALKING IN TONGUES

    Browsing through The New York Times yesterday, August 17th, Miss Chicka read to me a story that was datelined Accra, Ghana.  Furthermore, it had to do with talking in tongues, which is a hallmark of the Pentecostal faith which is one of the Christian Protestant churches.  This story had two attractions for me. In the…

  • “I AM NOT A PERFECT MAN”

    “I AM NOT A PERFECT MAN” BISHOP EDDIE LONG PASTOR OF THE NEW BIRTH MEGA-CHURCH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA SEPTEMBER 26, 2010     I do not pretend to be a historian of the relationship between the Church and the affairs of man.  But in my lifetime there have been three or four occasions when the proclivity…

  • HEY, MICHELE, PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION

    This essay is being dictated on Sunday, the morning after the straw poll in Iowa was taken.  In the straw poll, Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul each finished with about 30% of the vote.  She was fractionally better than Ron Paul, so she claimed a victory.  Mind you, this is 30% of the vote in…

  • THE POWER OF PRAYER

    A casual observer reading the title of this essay might conclude that it is a religious essay.  But that is not the case at all.  I believe that upon further examination, the contents of this essay will be revealed to be totally political.  I have nothing against doing religious essays, but in this case it…

  • REVIVAL DAYS

    This morning’s New York Times had a long story coming from Kansas City having to do with the ultimate in revivals.  It described a “perpetual religious revival” which seems to be attracting a large number of followers. Unfortunately the sponsors of the perpetual revival entitled their efforts as the International House of Prayer.  For this…

  • PURGATORY

    This essay about Purgatory comes about because of my insatiable curiosity.  It is not meant as a diatribe against the Catholic belief.  On the other hand, it is meant to determine what is meant by Purgatory and what we must do while we are here on Earth to enjoy the benefits or lack of benefits…