Did you ever see the movie Parenthood? Shining among Ron Howard’s stellar cast of stars are Steve Martin (Gil) and Rick Moranis (Nathan), two fathers trying their best to be a “good pop.” Nathan is insanely obsessed with his theories about tapping the genius within young children;...

But it was done. And the body hung there like a butchered thing, naked and alone in a sudden hush among the ravaged air. - B.H. Fairchild, “The Deposition” Our Father, who art in heaven, gallowed is thy Name… *gallowed? Updike’s Rev. Marshfield allowed the ‘happy Freudian’...

Prior to this week, my last airline experience was in August; I was flying back from Phoenix. As I boarded the big old jet airliner, I found my row and seat, and chuckled. I had been placed, strangely enough, beside two striking young ladies. As I struggled to fit my one carry-on into the overhead,...

Editor’s Note: In celebration of the release of, as Larry Shallenberger puts it, “Burnside writer, sage, and smart aleck” John Blase’s first book, here’s an interview between John and the enigmatic Thomas Marshfield. After you read it, go to Amazon.com or Powells or something...

And then came the long surrender… - B.H. Fairchild, “Rave On” The larger church an hour away came courting and my father accepted the call. Whether it was his will or God’s, the son had no choice but to follow. It was the first exodus of my memory; a confused goodbye to yellow...

“Eat or die.” - Jim Harrison If I hear one more nitwit rage on about consumer christianity or a consumer faith, I may cut my ponytail and go sit in sackcloth and aspens. The usual script goes something like – “All American Christians want to do is consume; they never give back,...

I want to tell you a story… He was a preacher back then. He still is to this day. He is my father. I can remember him standing behind the table with the words etched across the front: in remembrance of me. He would say the words needed to bless symbols of stale saltines and microscopic tumblers...