If you are going to watch the Beatles Get Back Documentary, based on 57 hours of previously unseen footage about the end of the Beatles career as a group, I would suggest first of all that you watch the interview with Peter Jackson, of course of Lord of the Rings fame, by Stephen Colbert, readily available at CBS All Access under the Late Show icon.  It turns out, much of what we thought about the break up of the world’s... Read more

It would be well to start by pointing out that we do not know that Jesus was born in winter. Indeed,  Lk. 1-2 suggests sometime in the spring when sheep would be lambing, and shepherds would be abiding in the fields with their flocks.  And then there is the matter of travel in winter— mostly the rainy season but I have been in Jerusalem in January when it snowed.  The usual explanation as to why we celebrate the birthday of... Read more

For those old enough to remember the original Ghostbusters movie from the early 1980s, including the unstoppable Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray combo, we said then, and I would still say now— it will take a lot to top the original. While this new Ghostbusters movie doesn’t quite do that, it is hands down the most fun movie of the holiday season, and good for the whole family, excluding small children.  There are many things to like about this movie–... Read more

I grew up in furniture city— High Point N.C. It isn’t that any more, but in Hickory, Newton and surrounding places in the foothills, it’s making a comeback.  I used to work in a lawn furniture factory, and later for Carolina Door. My dad worked at Tomlinson’s in High Point as well. But America’s lust for cheap goods almost made the American furniture industry extinct in the 1980s and 1990. It got so bad that in Lexington N.C. (not to... Read more

THE BONDING A cold and listless season, And full of cheerless cheer, When hopes are raised and dashed again And joy dissolves in tears.   The search for endless family The search for one true Friend Leaves questers tired, disconsolate With questions without end.   Best find some potent pleasure quick Some superficial thrill Than search for everlasting love When none can fill that bill.   So hide yourselves in shopping And eating ‘til you burst, Use endless entertainment As... Read more

  Contrary to popular belief, the New Year for Christians does not begin in the month of Janus i.e. January, the god who faces both back and forward. Just as the New Year begins with Rosh Hashanah for Jews (which by the way means ‘head of the year’) so the Christian New Year begins with Advent, from the Latin adventus— to come, and interestingly the first Sunday in Advent celebrates the second coming of Jesus, not the first one, Hence... Read more

A Big thank you to Todd Still and Jason Myers for the total surprise of my being given a Festschrift in honor of my 70th birthday.  We celebrated at Rio, Rio Cantina on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Pictured at the birthday party are Todd Still, Jason Myers, Judy Gundry, Craig Evans, Jeff Weima, and my colleague at Asbury Craig Keener.  A big thank you to you all.   BW3 Read more

Whilst watching a really depressing show on the effects of the Covid pandemic, a statistic was mentioned that no one has been talking about—- namely that 40% of the deaths from COVID are of those who are obese or morbidly obese.  And this is not only of those who are not vaccinated. I realize I can be accused of fat shaming people by talking about this especially during the holiday season, and I realize as well that there are in... Read more

As my mom used to say, growing old is not for sissies.  As usual, she was right, though I used to hate to admit it. But how does one grow older gracefully?  Rule 1: Have a more regular filter on what you say.  If you just say whatever comes into your head after 70 years, you may come across as silly, stupid, senile, or worse. So think before you speak. Rule 2:  Eat less and chew more thoroughly.  That way... Read more

First point. I haven’t cried at a movie this much in a long time.  This is one powerful story of overcoming obstacles and achieving great success.  Overcoming prejudice, overcoming the star-maker machinery, staying within one’s family values.  I did not realize the Williams sisters grew up in a strong Jehovah’s witness family.  There are various things I would strongly disagree with the JWs about, but not their emphasis on family and core family values, and not their insistence on following... Read more