Americans: we have many good traits, but like any nation some odd ones. We made The Greatest Show on Earth the best picture over Singin’ In the Rain. American Christians gained the odd notion that they needed to spend time discerning God’s will for every particular decision from whether to floss our teeth (generally “yes”) to whether to answer an email about the Irish letter (“no”). Imagine working hard to construct a school room for your kids full of wonderful... Read more

My table manners were wrong for a French resteraunt and wrong in different ways in Mongolia. Still no place wanted me to put me bare feet on the dining room table: mostly I was ok. People are more the same than different, though the differences, if ignored, can cause problem. When Americans do not understand Arab rhetorical style, they fail to take people seriously. Cross cultural mistakes can be deadly and the problem is made worse when time is added:... Read more

A nifty advantage to Christianity is that while revelation helps our reason to some sensible answers, these open us to better questions. We are left with options and a cosmos to explore. That’s why we can argue amongst ourselves and this is only a problem when we lose love as our guide. I am a Christian, but when it comes to questions where Christians have options I am a Platonist. What does that mean? I think the world we see... Read more

Tyrants love pomp, puffery, and pretend heroics. The pomp entertains the populace, the puffery salves his pride, and pretend heroics are pacifying play. Real heroism comes with a cost, but worst of all for the tyrant genuine accomplishment makes the posturing look pitiful and creates a genuine leader. The question is whether we are capable caring. I will enjoy the new Justice League movie and already have tickets for the whole family for the next Star Wars. Fun films for... Read more

The children of Israel fled Egypt with mounds of stuff. The stuff got burned off in the desert and everyone who loved stuff went with it. Read more

I once rewrote a song, The Vicar of Bray, that should have “Dr.” Robert Jeffress humming: The Vicar of Bray mocks the wobbling clergy of the Church of England. In the song the “good” Vicar will keep his job, his main religion, no matter the views of the Head of the Church (the Monarch) by changing his theology with the times. Sadly, this spirit does not require a formal state church and exists even in Dallas. Today we have modern vicars... Read more

Jesus. Jesus was humble so Christian leaders do not have to be. He took on the burden of true humility so we can humbly brag about our ministry size and feel better. We don’t have to be womanish, weak, meek or mild, because all that was done for us. Just as we do not have to live in ancient Palestine, so we do not have to be humble, because Jesus was humble for us. We can build our brand, because... Read more

I am listening to the Astros play game seven against the Yankees on the radio. We have a big screen projection television, but I listen to baseball on the radio or the wonderful MLB application. Why? When I was a boy, Papaw Shelby Reynolds would go to sleep listening to the Reds play on his bedroom radio. I loved listening at night from my room when we stayed over. 1908 Preston Street, Charleston, West Virginia was my idea of Rivendell.... Read more

Schools develop traditions that once made sense, there were reasons for them when they developed, but that can continue long after everyone has forgotten the reasons. Once there is acceptance by the vast majority of students and teachers, nobody thinks to explain the tradition anymore. This is a fragile moment, because the idea will be attacked by some excellent student who asks: “Why?” Nobody is quite sure and if the student is forceful enough then the tradition will die before... Read more

Halloween is coming, the holy day that reminds us that the young will soon be the old and the old the dead. All this new will become ancient and much will be forgotten. The lads who wrote the November copy of The Daisy were the future in November of 1910. The school paper for the urban Euclid School urges you to see Dr. L.H. Kramer who notes that your eyes (!) are “a pillar in the foundation of your future. Their... Read more