In the future, people may wonder why folks from this era took so many photos of themselves. Social media is littered with them, of varying quality. Nowadays, it seems everyone’s favorite pose is standing in front of a mirror. Obviously, this is the age of the narcissist in more ways than one. We are a … Continue reading Selfies
Category: Essays
Apocalypse Later
Some years ago, during the second season of Survivor, a rumor made the rounds of the spoiler sites that one of the contestants refused to watch the show. There was no attribution accompanying the rumor, but before long, it was being passed around as gospel with rampant speculation as to what it meant. I posted … Continue reading Apocalypse Later
What’s Next?
I never imagined I’d like sushi. It always sounded like a type of food I’d sooner avoid, until I tried it and wondered why I hadn’t done so sooner. Equally, escargot never appealed to me until I had some at Taste of Atlanta one year, and I found it to my liking. Now, when I … Continue reading What’s Next?
Disfunction Junction
Are people really surprised by what’s happening in this country now? Mass shootings, terrorizing minorities and immigrants, death threats against actors for being in movies; that’s apparently who we are now. It’s not just politics but there’s this toxic hostility in every layer of society. Some of it is warranted, given the many disparities among … Continue reading Disfunction Junction
Leash Laws
Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of walking early in the morning before the sun rises. It’s cool, traffic isn’t bad, and there aren’t a lot of people around. Plus, by the time I finish walking, it’s only seven- or eight-o-clock, and I have my exercise in for the day. On several occasions, recently, I’ve … Continue reading Leash Laws
A Soldier’s Story
Note: This essay is reprinted from The Cheese Toast Project available from online bookstores, and in Kindle format from Amazon.com. An earlier draft appeared on this blog 5 August 2014. On the freezing morning of Sunday, 29 November 1863, Union soldiers defending Fort Sanders in Knoxville, Tennessee leveled their rifles at advancing Confederate soldiers and … Continue reading A Soldier’s Story
The End of History
While many might believe life on Earth would be simpler if we could all be brought together under a single, unifying philosophy, no one can come to any sort of agreement on what that should be. Every social, political, economic, and religious movement since the dawn of civilization has sought to unite people under a common set … Continue reading The End of History
Here and Now
I was raised in a conservative Christian household, in an evangelical church, in the Southern United States, in the 60s and 70s. It's doubtful anyone can tell me anything about Jesus I haven't already heard. People ask when and why I lost my faith and my response is, I didn't. I never really had any … Continue reading Here and Now
The Bible Tells Me So
Some years ago, the Reader's Digest caused quite a stir by issuing a condensed version of the Bible. Televangelists were up in arms, some going so far as to burn the book and calling for an all out boycott of the Reader's Digest organization. Despite all the outrage, no one seems to care that there … Continue reading The Bible Tells Me So
Real Bible Studies: Genesis, Isaac
Isaac is almost a footnote in the history of Israel. He's born; he's almost sacrificed by his father; he marries Rebekah; he buries Abraham; he fathers Esau and Jacob; he almost gives Rebekah to Abimelek; he's tricked into giving away Esau's blessing to Jacob; then he reconciles with Jacob and dies, all in the span … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Genesis, Isaac
