Stephen Curto

Reformation Musings

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500 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses (arguments, or grievances) to the doors of Wittenberg churches. You can find all kinds of information on Luther, so I won’t bore you with history. I don’t so much want to talk about Martin, the brash, charge into battle, say what’s needed to win an argument, lover of men and the Bible, concerned with grace and grace alone as the means of salvation, monk, as I do want to talk about the reformation. What has it brought and where is it now? There were many reformers, such as Jan Hus, … [Read more]

Why I Favor a Single Payer System

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What is Insurance Let me define insurance for you, from dictionary.com. “The act, system, or business of insuring property, life, one’s person, etc., against loss or harm arising in specified contingencies, as fire, accident, death, disablement, or the like, in consideration of a payment proportionate to the risk involved.” Now in English: “Paying some money now, when you’re not sick, so that if you have a major accident, the person to whom you paid the small amount foots the bill.” To simplify it even further, it’s a person or a company looking at you and saying, “I’ll bet you $60 … [Read more]

The Gate is Small (Pt. 7)

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This is a continuation of an allegorical tale begun in The Gate is Small (Pt. 1) and continuing through The Gate is Small (Pt. 2), The Gate is Small (Pt. 3), The Gate is Small (Pt. 4), The Gate is Small (Pt. 5), and The Gate is Small (Pt. 6). I suggest reading the full story in order, but of course, that’s only my opinion. Jack and I were sitting at an antique wooden breakfast table inside a backpacker’s hostel. The kitchen was well-stocked with the usual ingredients for breakfasts and dinners, and crystal clear water ran from the tap. … [Read more]

Starts with an E ends with a Y and WILL MESS YOU UP!

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Starts with an E ends with a Y and WILL MESS YOU UP! That’s right. You know what I’m talking about. It’s a little pill your friends might make you swallow, and you wonder to yourself if it’s a good idea at the time, but then you get to where you can’t resist it, and you have to keep going back because of the intoxicating effects. You can’t get enough of it. You start craving it more and more, until finally you overdose, and those same friends have to hold you back from starting fights and convince you that the … [Read more]

Reflections on Harvey

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What I Saw in Harvey I was safe and dry for all of Harvey. I moved into a third story apartment two days before Harvey hit, and was literally moving furniture in the Friday morning that it started. I was well-stocked with food, and spent most of the weekend watching Netflix, waiting for it to be over. The only pain Harvey caused me was in watching people who were stranded via social media and wishing I could help, but being unable to do so. I heard many people echo this same sentiment. They were safe and dry and felt bad … [Read more]