Throughout the book of Genesis, YHWH has been telling Abraham that his descendants will one day possess the land of Canaan, which usually meets with skepticism from Abraham. His sometimes sister, sometimes wife, Sarah, is barren and said to be well beyond the age when women could produce children. YHWH has gone so far as … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Genesis, The Birth of Isaac
Tag: verse
Real Bible Studies: Judges, The Song of Deborah
In Judges 4-5, we meet one of the few women who stands on her own in all of the Old Testament. Deborah isn't just identified as a strong woman, Judges tells us she's leading the Israelites and holds counsel under the Palm of Deborah. She's identified as a prophet, and the wife of Lappidoth. Despite … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Judges, The Song of Deborah
Real Bible Studies: Kings & Chronicles
Nowhere is the piecemeal nature of the Bible more evident than in the books detailing the kings of Israel and Judah from the time of David's ascension to the time Babylon sacks Jerusalem and burns the temple. Kings and Chronicles are each broken up into two books, but according to sources, in the Hebrew Bible, … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Kings & Chronicles
Dreams and Less (New Graphic and Revised Text)
The sun goes down, worlds darken. Deep within another tainted dream I wander, alone, with just myself as companion. Dusty hallways fade in light. Eerie screams pierce tortured silence, leaving scattered bits of broken dreams, just memories.
Not a Love Song: The Tragedy of Juliet
Shakespeare's best known tragedy is the story of two star-crossed lovers, who, in death, end their families' conflict. Despite being hailed as a great romance, Romeo and Juliet is, in no way, a love story, but very much about individual responsibility and the consequences of making decisions in the heat of passion. Romeo is very … Continue reading Not a Love Song: The Tragedy of Juliet
Alyse Black, Academy Theatre, Hapeville, GA, 14 April 2015
My friend, Alyse Black was in town Tuesday, 14 April and performed at the Academy Theatre in Hapeville, GA. I met Alyse in 2008 when she performed at the Five Spot in Little Five Points, and have been following her career ever since. She's a great singer and songwriter, and her live shows are always … Continue reading Alyse Black, Academy Theatre, Hapeville, GA, 14 April 2015
Real Bible Studies: Samson
As a child growing up in the Methodist Church, I learned about Samson, the legendary strongman from Judges, in Sunday School. This Biblical hero looms large in the imagination of believers and non-believers alike both for his strength and his amazing head of hair. What I learned then is that he was really strong, devoted … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Samson
Myths and Myth Making in Hamlet
Note: This article has been updated and expanded in my essay collection The Cheese Toast Project, available in print from online bookstores, and in print and Kindle at Amazon. Laurence Olivier once referred to Hamlet as the story of a man who can't make up his mind. While there are elements of indecisiveness in Hamlet's … Continue reading Myths and Myth Making in Hamlet
Ophelia and Hamlet
Note: This article has been updated and expanded in my essay collection The Cheese Toast Project, available in print from online bookstores, and in print and Kindle at Amazon. Modern stage interpretations of Hamlet place a great deal of emphasis on the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia, more so, perhaps, than Shakespeare himself intended. Some … Continue reading Ophelia and Hamlet
When Josie Comes Home
We don't know who she is. We don't know where she is, or why. We don't know when, or if she's coming back, and we don't really know how the narrator truly feels about her. Thus, the enduring mystery of Josie, the title character of the final track of Steely Dan's iconic album Aja. The … Continue reading When Josie Comes Home
