Reflections on God … Man … Life
Commentary, from a Biblical perspective, on current events that are primarily cultural. There may be some overlap with politics and government, but the emphasis is on broader societal developments apart from politics, which also includes analysis of specific individuals.
Welcome to 2014. As a historian, I see significance in the passage of time, but for practical day-to-day living, the distinction between one year and the next is artificial. What really changes from December 31 to January 1? Oh, yes, some new laws go into effect, but it’s all part of the continuum of time. I watch the revelers on New Year’s Eve and see mostly drunks and people who could easily lay claim to an award for brainless activity… Read more »
I’m going to take a break from blogging for the rest of 2013. Before I go, a few comments. First, a sincere wish directed toward Republicans, in the form of a gift: And also a reminder to remember what Christmas is all about: Just kidding. But if you are watching the usual “holiday” specials, you might think so. Actually, I direct you to some words from the Gospel of John instead: There was the true Light which, coming into the… Read more »
I don’t hunt. I don’t fish. Skinning an animal or cleaning fish are not on my bucket list. I don’t concoct ingenious, makeshift contraptions to make things work. I’d make a lousy redneck. Yet I absolutely love Duck Dynasty. I resisted it for over two years, but so many people were referencing it, and I heard that the Robertson family are Christians, so I finally succumbed to watching an episode. I was hooked from the start. The writing is clever,… Read more »
Another semester comes to a close tonight with the fall commencement at Southeastern University. I’m in my twenty-fifth year of teaching at the college level and have now witnessed a multitude of these. As I watch the graduates cross the stage and receive their diplomas, I hope that the four years they have invested were worth all the effort and the money that was spent. At least I have a higher comfort level at a university like SEU, knowing that… Read more »
Christmas is fast approaching. I thought I’d do a little experiment, so I typed in “Christmas” on Google, then went to whatever images it chose to highlight. Hundreds appeared. Many were quite beautiful, like this one: And there were those that make you feel warm and comfortable, evoking perhaps memories of Christmases past: A multitude of pictures featured someone intimately connected with Christmas: Others were admittedly rather cute: Some even attempted a message of sorts: Nice and general—vague even—and certainly… Read more »
My first degree was in radio, tv, and film production, and I’ve remained fascinated with these forms of communication even as I’ve moved on to the field of history. Historical settings within movies are of particular interest to me; period pieces are a natural draw. I’ve seen two exceptional movies recently that effectively recreate historical periods while simultaneously communicating a worthwhile message. The Christmas Candle is one of the new genre of Christian-based films that has superior production values along… Read more »
Fifty years ago yesterday, C. S. Lewis, just one week shy of his 65th birthday, slipped into eternity. At the ripe young age of twelve, I was unaware of his death. The whole world was watching the unfolding events surrounding the JFK assassination, so the passing of a university professor whose writings had awakened a generation to the vibrancy of Christianity, went virtually unnoticed. Lewis himself felt his influence had waned in his later years. Most observers agreed, and they… Read more »