PinnedMember-onlyEulogy for LouiseDuring our four decades of marriage, Louise and I moved thirty-five times, living in eight states and three of the world’s poorest countries in Africa and Asia. We also spent the better part of a year homeless and living out of our van. Health and money issues dogged us most…Eulogy8 min readEulogy8 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Sep 19, 2020Member-onlyHow I Became a Rock Star at 69Well…on Facebook anyway OK, full disclosure. I’m using “Rock Star” as hyperbole (No need to look that up. Here’s the definition: “exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally”). Truth be told, my guitar skills are pathetic and my singing makes dogs bark and babies cry. …Covid 195 min readCovid 195 min read
Published in Interfaith Now·Sep 17, 2020Member-onlyWhy I Don’t VoteAnd why God is okay with that — With battle lines drawn and trash talk getting louder, our nation has begun an all-out battle for the presidency. Anyone still on the side-lines hears the mobs chanting, “Whose side are you on?”… “You have to choose our guy.” Well, I can’t. And I won’t, because both sides have a…Religion10 min readReligion10 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Aug 29, 2020Member-onlyChristianity And Culture In PoliticsHow faith can change the 2020 presidential election campaign Along with a tumultuous hurricane season, this year’s election season forecast is a stormy one. Following the lead of national figures, my social media friends (I thought we were friends!) are growling and clawing at any who defy their personal choice…Christianity6 min readChristianity6 min read
Published in Interfaith Now·Aug 15, 2020Member-onlyHeaven and HellWhat we know from those who’ve been there — I’ve been hesitant to broach this topic because it makes a lot of folks uncomfortable and there’s plenty of things to do that these days. To mention heaven isn’t so bad because it’s easy enough to dismiss as wishful thinking. But the subject of hell always…well…raises hell. It’s like whacking…Spirituality6 min readSpirituality6 min read
Published in Koinonia·Aug 11, 2020Member-onlyHonoring God With a Wayward HeartThe spirit is willing but the flesh is weak — Unbelievers love to say the church is full of hypocrites. There’s some truth to it, albeit a half-truth. Hypocrisy, like all sin, is forgivable. Those who commit it are people like me, who fail in their attempts to honor and please God. …Christianity4 min readChristianity4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Aug 10, 2020Member-onlyWhy We Demonize OthersAnd why the pandemic makes it worse To demonize a person or collection of people is to think of them as evil. Putting others in that category seems to justify negative attitudes and destructive actions toward them. Interestingly, demonizing assumes a moral universe within which good and evil not only exist, but vie with one another. According…Culture7 min readCulture7 min read
Published in Koinonia·Jul 29, 2020Member-onlyOne in ChristThe bond that transcends every division known to man — The world is being broken apart. Fragmented into a million shards that perpetually grind against one another, creating ever more disjointed bits and pieces. The incessant grating is pulverizing our social fabric and damaging the collective soul. Knives out and hammers raised, the violence continues unabated. Social discord is largely…Christianity5 min readChristianity5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jul 27, 2020Member-only“I have COVID”Three words that garner a lot of attention — Two weeks ago my 70 year-old immunocompromised wife inadvertently handled a drone controller operated by two young men visiting our neighborhood. Out for her daily walk, Louise came across the friendly duo and proceeded to stand at close proximity while happily conversing and interacting with them for some 15 minutes. …Covid 196 min readCovid 196 min read
Published in Koinonia·Jul 25, 2020Member-onlyTen Perfectly Good Reasons NOT to Become a ChristianIf these aren’t thoroughly convincing, then God help you — Orthodox Judaism has traditionally discouraged non-Jews from converting to the faith. That hesitancy forces potential converts to count the cost and be absolutely certain they are ready to pay it. For different reasons, detractors of Christianity also employ a bevy of arguments to dissuade any who would consider embracing it…Christianity6 min readChristianity6 min read
