Ben Stein of "Ferris Bueller," "Win Ben Stein's Money," and "America's Most Smartest Model" is featured this week on American Public Radio's "Word for Word. It is well worth listening to.     http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/wordforword/2008/02/29/wordforword_64.mp3

Snort . . . gag . . . sniffle... I almost never take sick leave. Part of the reason is that I don't get seriously sick that often. Part of the reason is that my workaholism probably makes me go to the office at times when I shouldn't. This week was different. I noticed Sunday … Continue reading Resurrection →

Yesterday, I posted a message from Michael Welch, the pastor at Lafayette UMC, on my church web site. It was a gracious note thanking all for their desire to help with the recovery efforts following the tornadoes in that area. He also tactfully called for restraint, for in the zeal to help folks were actually … Continue reading Yesterday… →

Remember what I said in October? Okay, I barely remember what I said in October, so there is no reason that you should. Back then I was ranting away on the unhealthiness of the Britney Spears obsession. I suggested her mental status was such that we should avoid buying her albums and continuing to put … Continue reading No Peeking . . . especially you NPR →

  NEW YORK - Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56. Singer Dan Fogelberg, 56, dies of cancer - Yahoo! News For many of us who … Continue reading Singer Dan Fogelberg, 56, dies of cancer →

Every so often, I will run across an article in the news featuring some pundit suggesting that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a sham concocted by a psychiatrists and drug manufacturers with a vested financial interest in keeping folks medicated. Many times these articles bemoan the medicating of our kids, believing that kids are receiving … Continue reading Living With the Reality of ADHD →

The week of Thanksgiving, I developed a pain in my left lower teeth and jaw. "Crap!" I thought, "...my bad habits have finally caught up with me." You see, I must confess that I haven't always been diligent about keeping up with my dental care. We didn't have a lot of money in my childhood, … Continue reading And the pain is gone… →

Well, I AM about to go overseas, and my existing digital camera IS old and worn out. This looks like a reasonable replacement.

If you hung around this site at all, you probably know that I have served on the staff of the past five General Conferences of the UMC. That has included coordinating the production of the conference for a couple of times (Denver and Cleveland) and serving on the General Conference Secretary's staff (Pittsburgh). What I … Continue reading I’ve already been to Fort Worth anyway… →

FORT SMITH, Ark. - When the Rev. Fidelis Obdike opened his eyes after a prayer, the setting wasn't the same. Gone were his laptop computer and the man with whom he was praying. Police arrested Carl Hagy, 41, on Wednesday on a theft charge after he allegedly pawned the computer. Man takes laptop from praying … Continue reading Man takes laptop from praying preacher →

Thursday was an interesting day. For a week, I had been leaning forward in anticipation of Thursday for on Thursday Kay, Grace, and I would be attending the Koinonia Family Reunion (which I wrote about last week). Beyond being able to see hear and see some of the musician that formed me, I knew it … Continue reading A Reunion of Friends →

I am becoming more and more convinced that the modern automobile is a tool of the devil. Of course, we all know that the mobility offered by the gas guzzling monsters of metal has led to the disintegration of the concepts of neighborhood and family. In many places, the morning commute is a celebration of individualism, … Continue reading I Hate Cars →

We know that Britney is at least: Mentally unbalanced. Most likely continuing to use mind altering substances (based on the decisions of the courts in the child custody case). Deemed by the courts to be unfit to be a custodial parent, due to her lifestyle. It is clear to the most amateur observer that this … Continue reading I simply don’t understand…a Britney Rant →