Doom, Gloom and Hope

What fools we mortals be! On my 10th birthday in 1939 I witnessed a madman lead his nation into a war of conquest that eventually consumed the lives of more than 50 million men, women and children. Short days ago, another godless madman sent his armies into a neighboring nation, causing death and destruction and […]

Fight for the Planet

Climate change is a real issue.  Perhaps some alarmists exaggerate the immediate danger, but there is no doubt that the earth is warming.  The glaciers are disappearing, and forest fires are becoming an increasing problem in the American west and in Europe.  There are contradictory reports on polar ice, but if we experience significant shrinkage […]

Posses

During the summer of 2020 many of America’s cities suffered riots.  What can we do to end the rioting? What long term solutions are possible that will bring an end to these episodic periods of racial and social mayhem?  What will bring a sense of real fulfillment and freedom to our black brothers and sisters? […]

The Swamp

In my March 3 post I wrote about “bureaucratic tyranny.” Conservatives like to label the Federal bureaucracy as “the swamp’, and conjure up images of alligators and venomous snakes that are poised to destroy any elected official foolish enough to contest bureaucratic control over the levers of government. In truth, the bureaucracy is mostly composed […]

Bureaucratic Tyranny

When Congress passes legislation and the President signs it into law, enforcement is placed into the hands of the appropriate Federal department.  Bureaucrats within that department then develop the procedures and regulations that govern how the law is enforced.  Depending on how tightly or loosely the legislation was written, the enforcers may have considerable discretion […]

The Podiatrist

For most of my life I had no foot problems at all, but then I suddenly began to experience pain in my right foot – between the arch and the heel.  After a few weeks I spoke to my family physician about the problem, and he referred me to a podiatrist. The podiatrist examined my […]

Humility

There is an old story about members of various Roman Catholic orders arguing about which religious order was the greatest.  Finally, a member of a small, obscure order spoke up. “Well,” he said, “we might not have the scholarship of the Jesuits, or a reputation for piety like the Franciscans, but in humility, we’re tops.” […]

Nixon and Watergate

 Many people have strong feelings about Nixon.  Some hate him passionately as one who betrayed the trust of the American people.  Others forgive his crimes and errors and see him as one who accomplished much and suffered much in service to his nation.  These feelings about Nixon are often colored by one’s own ideological viewpoint.  […]

Assassination and Conspiracy

The Assassination of President John Kennedy in November 1963 is forever seared into to memories of those old enough to remember that time.  Years later that event remains the subject of controversy and conspiracy theories.  Olive Stone’s 1992 movie JFK did much to spread misinformation. Stone’s was a violent tale of conspiracy and corruption that […]

Prepare for Trial

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog entitled “Could They Convict.”  In it I asked the question, “If you were put on trial for your Christian faith, would they have enough evidence to convict you?”  I posed it as a hypothetical question, but perhaps it’s no longer hypothetical.  Your time of trial may be […]