Throughout the gospel accounts there are people who are finding things. Some of the things found are totally unexpected. And some things were lost and then found. Jesus lets us know that there are things meant to be found. We learn that heaven is tuned into the findings. Joyous celebration all around is the…
… a personal reflection Tampa (AFP) – Life expectancy in the United States dropped yet again as drug overdose deaths continued to climb — taking more than 70,000 lives in 2017 — and suicides rose, a US government report said Thursday. The drug overdose rate rose 9.6 percent compared to 2016, while suicides climbed…
A knock. Then two more. Peter opened his front door. There stood his neighbor Dimitri stomping the slush off of his Oxford shoes. Peter had invited his neighbor Dimitri over for Thanksgiving dinner. “Come in”, Peter gestured. “Let me take your coat. Welcome. Make yourself comfortable.” Dimitri eyes glanced around the room until he saw…
When you think of Thanksgiving you think family, food and football. Let me suggest a fourth focus: creature features. The Book of Proverbs, found in the wisdom literature of the Bible, offers insight into the human condition. From my youth on I have asked God for wisdom, knowledge and a good understanding. I have…
The Progressive’s notion of equal outcomes: “income equality” realized through redistribution; test results based on tests revised so that certain people could pass the test; participation-trophy type merit; laws that ‘fix’ opportunity for certain people; verdicts and sentencing of activist judges who rule based on a defendant’s social circumstances rather than by the crime…
Despite the fact that Macy’s has their enormous Christmas tree lit up right now, signifying the coming season of glad tidings and of peace and of unbridled consumerism, the TV reminds us that it is knock-down-drag-out Partisan Season as candidates throw punches at their labeled-as-a-Grinch opponents. Democracy gives one the impression that with your…
A recurring diagnosis in Scripture, as the augmented title suggests, is the enlarged and unresponsive heart. We can read accounts when God brings into certain character’s lives situations which reveal the true condition of that character’s heart. I am reminded of Pharaoh and the Exodus account. Pharaoh, you will recall, wanted Israel to remain…
The unjust cry out for revenge justice: “No Justice, No Peace! The envious shout for equal outcome justice: “Fair Share!” Feminists rally for Pro-choice justice: “Abortion is a Civil Right!” The LGBT coalition demands lifestyle justification justice: “We demand equality and not your approval!” Social justice advocates crave an inclusive world: “Check Your Privilege!”…
Headlines daily declare man’s beastly behavior. Here are just a few of today’s headlines: From the AP: “Indictment: Woman poured toilet water in roommate’s drink” From ABC News: “Husband who had blamed cold medicine pleads guilty to killing his wife, stabbing her 123 times” From Chicago Sun Times: “Saturday shootings kill 2-year-old boy, wound…
Ressentiment is the French translation of the English word resentment. In philosophy and psychology it is a concept that was of particular interest to the existentialist philosophers. According to the existentialists, ressentiment is a sense of hostility directed at that which one identifies as the cause of one’s frustration, that is, an assignment of…
“The whole world is watching” was a chant by antiwar demonstrators outside the Conrad Hilton Hotel the evening of August 28 during the 1968 Democrat National Convention in Chicago -Wikipedia “Prologue, August 29, 1968” If you lived through the 60s as I have you will remember the numerous protests across the nation. If…
Livin’ the Dream Lew spooned out fruit cocktail from a can as he sat in front of the TV. The fruit squished in his gums. The sweet syrup dribbled down from the corners of mouth. A chunk of cherry flew into the air when he yelled “Those corporate fat cats! There’s nothing left…
