Is it just me or is there more hype this time over the choosing of the Pope than in the past? Every time I turn on the television or pick up the paper there seems to be another story about the conclave and the possible successor to Pope Benedict. It must feel good as a…
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
When I think of Charlie Brown one of two images immediately comes to mind. And maybe it’s the same with you. It’s either the scene of Charlie Brown staring forlornly into the tree that has once again eaten his kite or it’s Charlie Brown lying flat on his back after Lucy has pulled the football…
Those who forget history, etc , etc
And so now we know how to change history and win an award. Thirty years ago while at University I watched history unfold as Ken Taylor and the Canadian embassy staff in Iran masterminded and facilitated the rescue of 6 American embassy staff after the Islamic revolution. It was called “The Canadian Caper.” The United…
Where are you in the Strip?
How many of you grew up with “Peanuts”? Not the ground nuts that people are allergic to but Charlie Brown and his crew? From as far back as I can remember Charlie Brown has been a part of my life, when I was a kid a part of our Christmas traditions was to watch A…
Acts of God
The Pope resigns, a revision of history wins the Oscar, an asteroid misses earth, and a meteorite doesn’t. There was so much to write about while I was gone.Have you ever noticed how—when a natural disaster happens—it is an act of God, but when a natural disaster is averted it’s a happy coincidence? When the…
Rebuilding Your Altar
They couldn’t believe their eyes. The altar had been torn down! The altar, the very core of their spiritual life and spiritual heritage and now it was just rubble. They had never actually seen the Temple or the altar it housed themselves, but they had heard the stories and their parents and grandparents delighted in…
Missed it.
It happened on my way back from Ghana. It was the second to the last leg of our journey home and we had been in the air about four hours. I was deeply engrossed in a movie and for no apparent reason I opened the window shade, and I was stunned. There was the most…
Lydia’s Journey
She was a successful business woman, actually she was a successful business owner and that was virtually unheard of in the time and society she lived in. Remember this was 2000 years ago in a culture that was slightly male centered; actually it was very male centered. Females weren’t exactly chattel but they weren’t exactly…
Wrong Priorities
Maybe you heard about the accident in Africa. It made all the major news sites and public outcry came from all corners. People demanded, how could this happen? And the question was, what can be done to prevent it from happening again? If you heard, maybe you felt the outrage as well. The media reported…
Putting Away Childish Things 2
Leaving Childish things 2 Rev. Denn Guptill His name was Mickey Cohen. And he was a crook. And not just a little crook either, Mickey Cohen was the top man in the Los Angeles underworld during the forties and fifties. He had his finger into everything: gambling, extortion and prostitution. At his word heads were…