A Love Supreme (w/ Excerpt from lyrics by Leon Thomas) In 1926 the cosmos concocted A cacophonic spark. When John William Coltrane made his mark, The air was dark and heavy To the point of choking. America’s broken prism of idealism Shone in racial schisms and tokenism. The depression loomed just out of reach, Would-be slaves, though free from chains, Were not free in speech. The black man could teach his children, Just not too much, and as long As... Read more

I know I haven’t posted a spoken word piece in forever, but it looks like I have some new motivation. First off, I set up a monthly gig with a local coffeehouse to perform a combination of Jazz (with some friends of mine) and spoken word. The first event was packed, so I’m hopeful we’ll start a new cultural trand here in little old Pueblo. Second, I’ve hooked up with a literary agent who is helping me shop some of... Read more

I’ve been out of town for a while, which is why I have not had a chance to post about the last two episodes of Lost. This week, I’m watching my son by myself while my wife is away at a retreat, so this will be shorter than some, as I have to go pick him up shortly. Let me first say “I told you so” about Juliette. It was pretty clear there was more going on there than appearances... Read more

A multi-year study of several abstinence-until-marriage sex education courses has found recently that the programs have no effect on the number of sex partners participants have or the age at which they first engage in sexual activity. The same legislative body that spends more than $175 million on these programs every year ordered the study, though proponents of the approach were swift to argue reasons for the negative results. The programs in question, they say, are some of the oldest... Read more

I apologize for any confusion about this, but apparently, the 40% discount only works for orders done by email, phone or fax. The correct phone number listed in the prior email is correct (1-800-366-3383) and the email where you can send any orders is customerservice@cbp21.com. Again, sorry for the confusion. Read more

In case you or anyone you know has interest in the many titles offered by my publisher, Chalice Press (www.chalicepress.com), now is a pretty good time to check out their website. From now until May 25th, you can buy ANY of their books (including my LOST book and advance copies of our upcoming book, MySpace to Sacred Space: God for a New Generation) for 40% off the full list price.  For what it’s worth, this is the same discount I... Read more

I am a fan of political satire shows such as “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Like Jonathan Swift, these modern social commentators recognize that one poignant way to comment on the many absurdities in national and global politics is through humor. Stephen Colbert, the host of “The Colbert Report,” recently interviewed a congressman in his ongoing series, “Better Know a District.” In it, Colbert puts tongue-in-cheek questions to members of Congress, generally causing them to laugh nervously, squirm... Read more

I’ve put off writing my Easter column as long as possible. It’s not that I don’t like Easter; on the contrary, it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. Aside from the celebratory atmosphere at church, it always has represented for me the dominance of spring over the desolate grip of winter. I love watching children scramble excitedly for eggs, and the smell of tulips and lilies invigorates even the dustiest of souls. So why the reluctance? Short of a... Read more

Two weeks ago, I received more feedback about my column-writing than I have in the year since I began writing it. Ironically, it was the first time my column didn’t run. The omission was an oversight, though I must admit I wondered what about that particular column was so scandalous that it got yanked. To my relief, there was no drama involved. Several of the people who asked about the missing column are regular readers who engage me consistently. However,... Read more

Denial hides pain that never goes away By Christian Piatt Denial is defined as a defense mechanism which is used to shield someone from a situation that is deemed too painful to face, even when evidence stands overwhelmingly in opposition to their personal views. Such behavior is documented throughout the Bible, the most famous instance of which is Peter’s denial of Jesus. It’s still a powerful precept in the modern world. On the global level, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is... Read more