Monthly Archives: January 2020

While looking for a blog topic, I came across this quote by English churchman and scholar Thomas Fuller:  He loseth nothing who keepeth God for his friend.  Fuller is known for his numerous wise and witty quotes.  He lived during … Continue reading →

I remember the first time I heard a live performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Christmas composition “Hodie.” It was performed in a large Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois with orchestra, mixed choir, boys choir, and Ivy Beard, accompanist of … Continue reading →

I taught math for forty-four years, and over that time I had many students come to my office for help.  One such student visit still sticks in my mind. The student said that he was having trouble in the course … Continue reading →

…can be done on an infinite number of subjects…whether to eat that last slice of pizza; you’re satisfied but not TOO full…why your car won’t start; I’ve tried everything; oh wait! That “jiggle the steering wheel” trick…on the clock: I … Continue reading →

The Romans had him under house arrest.  They thought they could stop his preaching.  But Paul could still write.   His “prison” epistles are so named because they were written during one of Paul’s incarcerations.  Some scholars believe that Paul wrote … Continue reading →

Do you remember the musical Annie, the film version with Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, and Tim Curry? So well done, and there are many versions of this film and of course, stage productions as well. In the scene, where the … Continue reading →

Originally Posted on January 3, 2018 I recently watched a PBS special about the life of the great jazz musician John Coltrane. One jazz critic who was interviewed described the effect of his music by saying, “It was as if … Continue reading →

I recently read a quote by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr that got me to thinking about the role of laughter and humor in our spiritual lives.  It is a short quote but packed with meaning. Humor is a prelude to … Continue reading →

Pastor Art mentioned traveling lightly in a sermon sometime ago, and it really hit home for me. My family could not go on a simple picnic with just hotdogs, without packing plates, cups, napkins, table cloth, silver ware, a Coleman … Continue reading →

Paulette and I recently went to see the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks.  It’s a very good movie and is even inspirational.  We both enjoyed it, and I would like to tell you about one … Continue reading →