The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 We might think of foolishness, or folly, as something typical of untaught children, or older youth who are still without wisdom informing experiences, or maybe even adults slow on the uptake. But in Proverbs, folly isn’t... Continue Reading →
Slipping Into Life
June 6, 2013Cambria, CASitting on the boardwalk at the edge of the world on California’s coast and the waves roll in and roll out again. Squadrons of pelicans, all head and wings, glide up the coast, slow flapping and so close to the water I expect to see the water ripple under their wing tips-... Continue Reading →
What Will We Do in the End?
We were sitting in church after a Sunday morning service, lazily engaging in conversation, when we noticed a young boy, Drew (not his real name) up on the stage. There’d been a skit during the service about Paul and Silas’ time in the Philippian jail complete with working, theatrical stocks. Drew was having a great... Continue Reading →
Same-Sex “Marriage”—Why Does It Matter?
It looks like either through Supreme Court fiat or through state legislatures and/or propositions, “same-sex marriage” will likely be the law of the land soon. Christians and moral conservatives have spent immense time, energy, and money trying to keep this from happening, apparently to no effect. There are deep divides in culture over this issue... Continue Reading →
Venus through my window…
"Venus through my window…" That phrase runs through my mind as the eastern sky gains pale blue status and Venus shines star-bright through the waving pine boughs I see out my library window. A crescent, waning moon like a gilded treasure hangs center on the invisible ecliptic. These heavenly lights give an inner joy that... Continue Reading →
Starbucks Response to Open Letter
In the interest of full disclosure I'm posting the email response I received from Starbucks Corporate. This was their response to the text of my Open Letter which I emailed to them, as well as having posted here. Cheers, Mike ------------------------------------------------- Dear Mike, Thank you for contacting Starbucks. At Starbucks, we deeply respect the views... Continue Reading →
An Open Letter to Howard Schultz
March 25, 2013 Dear Mr. Schultz: We love Starbucks and have been fans and patrons for decades. We’ve collected Starbucks coffee cups from Hawaii to the British Isles. I spend most Friday mornings in our local store enjoying lattes, Americanos, or, last Friday, a delicious peppermint mocha, usually bringing home beans for the week (this... Continue Reading →
The Village Idiot- and Me
I grew up considering myself pretty cool, or at least a close approximation of it. I was graced with an apt mind, a pleasant enough personality and good success in school and sports. I was tall, slender, blonde (at least in my youth) and semi- handsome. I either felt cool, or knew enough of cool... Continue Reading →
Cold War Courage
Facing the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War in January 1961, President Kennedy stated the following at his inauguration: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival... Continue Reading →
Fighting Words and the Bane of “civil discourse”
I was reading an article at the Christianity Today web site recently on self identified “gay” students in, and alumni of, Christian colleges; the article includes elements that have become fairly typical of what’s called “civil discourse” between orthodoxy and theological heresy. I was wondering what the apostles and the early Church would make of... Continue Reading →
Applied Heart 