In some of the most powerful literature of the 20th century, celebrated Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn exposed the heavy suffering under Soviet Communism. Solzhenitsyn, whose stubborn, lonely and often combative literary struggles gained the force of prophecy, maintained: “To destroy a people, you must first sever their roots.” While an ordinary man was obliged “not to participate in lies,” Solzhenitsyn... READ MORE >
The ancient Romans are thought to be responsible for the name of our modern day of love: Valentine’s Day. It is anything but romantic in its origins, however, as it is said to have come about as reaction to the martyrdom of a priest and a physician–both named Valentine–on February 14th of different years in the 3rd century A.D. So... READ MORE >
In our arrogance we deny all we know to be true,In our pride we change the words on the pages;We rewrite history and the stories of our lives,As we need them to be.We replace sanctity with indifference,We celebrate depravity and crucify all virtue;We have ears, but choose not to hear,We have eyes, but choose not to see.We sacrifice all that... READ MORE >
Poets, priests, and political operatives have, for centuries, exploited the persuasive influence of emotion, noting its ability to effectively take control of a person’s thought and behavior. Given the fact that emotions are far more powerful than thoughts, totalitarian dictators, guerrilla revolutionaries, and others with nefarious designs on your life, choose to employ one of the most powerful of all... READ MORE >
“Life was filled with guns and war And everyone got trampled on the floor I wish we’d all been ready … “Children died, the days grew cold A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold I wish we’d all been ready …” So begin the first two stanzas to Larry Norman’s sobering song, “I Wish We’d All Been... READ MORE >
In the palm of her slender hand, she cradled the delicate ornament, a homemade trinket she had come to treasure from Christmases past. Carefully shrouding it in wrapping paper, she hoped to protect it for yet another year. She appeared reluctant to want to let it go, to seal it away, as it were. She lingered, transfixed in her thoughts,... READ MORE >
According to a study released by the Delaware-based Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), American college students are woefully uninformed about this nation’s history and its founding principles. The study, conducted a few years after heading into our third millennium, warns of a “coming crisis in citizenship …Which may not be an exaggeration,” remarked former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, whose appointment... READ MORE >
One of our perennial Christmas traditions involves viewing the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. A photodrama so disarmingly simple, yet it continues to be considered one of the greatest films of all time. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American... READ MORE >
While I’m not sure how you would define your mental psyche as we depart 2020 and head into the uncharted waters of 2021; notwithstanding, I think it’s pretty safe to say 2020 has been a year most of us would not want to relive. American columnist William Vaughan, who wrote a syndicated column for the Kansas City Star from 1946... READ MORE >
Born a few days after Christmas in 1829, Scottish poet Alexander Smith suggested, “Christmas is the day that holds all time together.” Alexander’s words can be understood in both a physical and metaphysical sense: unspiritual and deep seeing spiritual context. As we approach Christmas 2020 I find this to be more relevant this Christmas than any Christmas I have ever... READ MORE >
