Across the nation this past Sunday, October 8, about 1,600 pastors told the IRS to go to – well, let’s just say they gave notice of non-compliance in defense of religious freedom. In an annual event that began in 2008, pastors preached sermons from the pulpit that offered Biblical critiques of specific candidates’ political positions in violation of the Johnson Amendment of 1954. Read the CNN account here. Videos of many of the sermons were then sent to the IRS... Read more
It’s not often we get to critique something done by an anonymous person — well, come to think of it, I suppose we give mixed reviews of such people all the time. The idiot who set up the construction barrels in a confusing way on the expressway, the moron who didn’t reserve the right hotel room for us, or the nameless mechanic who obviously didn’t check our oil when we took it in 7 months ago. Ya, I guess we... Read more
Did you ever come across something Jesus said that, if anyone else had said it, you’d be wondering about the motive behind it? I confess that as I read what he said to the disciples about suffering, it felt a lot like he was callously saying, “I told you so!” In fact, if you had said the same thing to me, I would have expected it to come with an upturned nose and an arrogant snort. Here’s what He told them:... Read more
Slavery is wrong. It is sinful. A pernicious evil in which humans seek to become as God over their fellow man. I hate it with a passion. And my heart hurts for the countless thousands of peoples who are in bondage still today across the world. Support one such freedom spreading orgnaization here. And yet after a recent visit to the sacred grounds of Antietam, site of the bloodiest 12 hours in American military history, I find myself asking troubling... Read more
“I’ll be bloodied and you’ll be bloodied, but at least you’ll know not to bully me again.” ~ Jay Rehak, Chicago teacher Source: Chicago Tribune Much fuss is being made about the need for teachers in classrooms in Chicago as they strike today, creating chaos city-wide. But with teachers who make comments like the one above, I’m thinking the students may be better off outside of their classrooms. I expect such immaturity from students — elementary students, that is — but not from teachers. Clearly the... Read more
It’s not often you stumble upon simple truths neatly packaged. Well, maybe you hang out with smarter people than I do. Over many years of thinking, reading, and — hopefully — learning, I kept returning to 9 words representing 3 truths that seemed to change everything. Students at the school where I led and served for a dozen years will quickly recognize these 9 words. They’ve heard them often enough. If you listen carefully, you may even hear them groaning as I... Read more
I hate homework. Not as much as I hate yellow-jackets, but that’s another story. As a successful K-12 school leader and principal for a dozen years, I bring a unique voice of experience to this relatively new educational nuisance we call homework. Schools should get rid of almost all of it. It’s evil. That’s right. Evil. What else should I call something that robs us all of that most precious resource — time –and often gives nothing but hatred for learning in return?... Read more
By now you’ve no doubt heard of the video shown on the first day of the Democratic Party convention that claimed “government is the only thing we all belong to.” If you haven’t, here is the 17-second clip in question: There’s some truth to it. I just shocked some of my left-leaning readers, I know. But we do all share bonds and interests that find expression in the business of the polis or public life of the people in civil government.... Read more
It’s the end cap to my hallway and a doorway to my heart. My grandfather was a pioneer in radio. He owned a radio repair shop in Wichita back in the 1920s. His radio stands in my home, a testament to his work and a by-gone era. Too heavy for my hands to lift, I open the cabinet and imagine his hands connecting tubes and adjusting wires. I see his weathered hands moving parts around for maximum signal strength. I... Read more
Is it ever wrong to be right? Let’s hope Todd Akin thinks so. And soon. I’m ready to be forsakin’ Akin — and his bacon. One of the most challenging things a leader can do is quit when he thinks his interpretation to be the right one. Todd Akin thinks his explanation of his offensive comments about “legitimate rape” are sufficient to dispel calls for him to call off his campaign for the US Senate. But it really doesn’t matter what he thinks. Tim... Read more
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