No April Fools’ Day Joke This Year

I have enjoyed posting fake news in this spot on this day of days. But this year? I can’t think of anything to write that is as strange and as wonderful as recent true events. A silly comedian whose TV show depicts him becoming president of his country…becomes president of his country…and then a hero.

Church leaders across the denominational and theological spectrum publicly blow up in scandal after scandal, which makes us wonder how much time some other guys have before they are exposed, too….

One of my bêtes noires, Franklin Graham, continues to embarrass himself and his ministry by his salaries and sayings, but his Samaritan’s Purse organization continues to impress us all by its quick deployment of substantial aid in needy locales around the world.

The head of one of the largest churches in the world, the Russian Orthodox, emerges as a shameless promoter of his country’s president and policies in the face of widespread condemnation from his fellow believers. (Come to think of it, it’s not like we haven’t seen something like that closer to home…)

A pope takes the name of Francis and keeps calling his church to greater charity and frugality while refusing princely prerogatives of his office time after time.

And, yes, Will Smith smacks Chris Rock for real on prime-time TV.

I can’t compete with that.

(But check out April 1 postings from previous years...)