"All of us ought to be ready to laugh at ourselves," wrote theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, «because all of us are a little funny in our foibles, conceits, and pretensions.» Yes, to a greater or lesser extent, we all belong to Hypocrites Anonymous. Laughter helps us to preserve sanity in a crazed world; provides the lubrication we so desperately need to deal with irritating people and situations. Furthermore, it accents our need for humility by pricking the balloons of vain pretension. These...
Bazyn's poems seek to encourage Christians of all stripes to present a new song unto the Lord–by actual example and useful advice. All sorts of issues relating to creativity are touched upon, whether theological, psychological, sociological, philosophical, linguistic, or autobiographical. Among the topics covered: finding your own voice; reading widely and deeply in the classics; being spare, concise in your style; discovering your genuine self beneath its assorted masks; taking...