Image by Paul Keller via FlickrMany Americans are gloating right now with the news that Osama bin Laden has finally been eradicated from this earth. Is it wrong to feel such happiness? I remember the story of King David in the Old Testament, after he slayed Goliath. He cut off his the giant’s head and went on parade. Now that’s a victory lap. I think of the Munchkins singing, “Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead.” And I also think of... Read more
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. His last day on earth was a heroic one. His squadron was sent on a mission, but soon after he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would have to turn back. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and... Read more
We all know the story of Al Capone. He virtually owned Chicago. There were few redeeming qualities about the man. He controlled a vast empire fueled by booze, prostitutes, and gambling. Al Capone Of course, he was always in legal trouble. He had a highly competent lawyer, “Easy Eddie” who used the technicalities of the law to keep his employer free to run his crime empire. Eddie was well-compensated and lived large. He turned a blind eye to right and... Read more
One of the sure signs of spring is the presence of dandelions. Despite their yellow floral bursts, they’re generally considered noxious weeds. To me, they are the worst alien invaders of a well-kept lawn. And to say that I’m, um, anal about ridding them is an understatement. Like a hunter, I am on the prowl for them as I make my regular rounds. When I find one, I gear up with weed killer, a long dagger and a don’t-stop-me look in my eye.... Read more
Sometimes I look at this life I’m living, trying to make righteous choices, and the doubts creep in. I wonder if it’s just a waste of time when I could be enjoying the full fruits of this world. And then there’s everyone else. Since the beginning of time, it’s estimated that more than 8 billion people have made a decision to follow Christ. Since 1934, the number of Christians increased by 1300 percent while the world’s population grew only 400... Read more
He had learned the trade from his father who probably learned it from his father. The tools were simple. The wood. The nails. The hammer. Wood shavings crunched on the floor, trod by leather sandals. The smell of lumber filled his nostrils. Banging. Scraping. Sawing. The workshop was continually busy. It was all in the life of a carpenter. There was something satisfying about taking raw lumber and forming a piece of furniture, a shelf or a tool. But then... Read more
This is a Holy Week tribute to Johnny Hart, the creative cartoonist behind the “B.C.” cartoon strip and the “Wizard of Id.” He died of a stroke four years ago, ironically, on Easter Day. This is a long post, but once you read it, you’ll realize why I choose this time to honor such a man. Hart had a wry sense of humor that made millions laugh since 1958. “B.C.” was considered the most widely read comic strip on the planet. Johnny’s conversion... Read more
There lies within me a natural urge to walk away. When the wagging tongues throw their barbs of criticism my way, it’s tempting to find a way out, quick. When the naysayers remind me that I don’t have what it takes, I think about leaving. Run away from all of this. When my vision is blurred by the stark realities of finances, of health, of failures past, it’s hard to see anything but the door. The exit signs always seem to be lit,... Read more
I always had this belief that I would be successful. Not to go all Freud on you, but this started with my mother, who instilled some big dreams in my head as a lad. She pushed me to memorize the math tables that swirled in my head. The B plus was a sign of failure. The second-place wasn’t good enough. “You can do better.” Doctor. Pilot. Scientist. Any of those professions would be fine with her. But there were the... Read more
Each morning, my grandmother would pull on her blue-zippered sweater and open the door from her single-wide trailer. The famous Santa Cruz fog was thick in the morning, blowing moisture in from the Pacific and misting every surface with droplets. She would shake the leaves of the eucalyptus tree that dripped on the deck and then she would pull out her long-handled shovel to work the rich soil. She was 90, nimble, spry and full of life. Her mannerisms and... Read more
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