God’s Wisdom is Greater Even than That

Last updated on: September 24, 2020 at 10:15 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.* When confronted with absolute goodness, truth, and beauty, Paul had no time for anything less. This first-rate intellect, product of an epochally excellent Jewish education with at least some Hellenistic reading, had no time for anything less than true wisdom. Paul understood that both Jewish and Greek thinkers of his time too often were content with less. They did not aspire for the divine, but... Read more

Loyalty and Faith

Last updated on: September 23, 2020 at 7:48 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Proverbs 16:6 Guilt is wiped out by loyalty and faith, and the fear of the LORD makes mortals turn from evil. My dad surprised me once when I heard him asked what is rare in ministry. He paused and said: “Loyalty.” Loyalty, especially to the truth, is rare. Much more common is the person who works hard to convince themselves that what they wish to be true is true, avoiding anyone who might be able to “defeat” their convenient... Read more

Marriage Songs

Last updated on: September 20, 2020 at 1:48 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

A few years ago, I put together a play list of songs that reminded me of “us-” and I am listening just now. If you are married, at least for more than the few weeks or years, then you know what you hear when you listen to such a list. You hear time and the ages of love. The music of youth is good, causing me to recollect forgotten goods (“I LOVE LA!”) or just when our now mature love... Read more

In a word. . .accept one another . . .

Last updated on: September 20, 2020 at 1:52 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

In a word, accept one another as Christ accepted us, to the Glory of God.* So says the sage Paul and so I should do, but this is hard to do. How can I love my enemy when they are opposed to all I deem good? How can I even love my neighbor when he keeps doing petty evils that are more annoying due to their total lack of necessity. My neighbor gains nothing with his selfishness. I see who... Read more

Stop. Think about it. Don’t write it.

Last updated on: September 18, 2020 at 10:55 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

There is breaking news. What do you think? What do I think? Let’s all say something, quickly, without a moment of reflection. Since heated language gets more attention, let’s make those opinions as hot and hateful as possible. The virtue of prudence suggests waiting, saying nothing, until we have something good to say. If we have nothing original, good, true, or beautiful, then we can proceed to say nothing. A colleague wrote a wonderful children’s song.* It contains some good advice... Read more

Courage with Prudence

Last updated on: September 17, 2020 at 10:35 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

I was once asked to go to a country that had just shaken free from communism. The government was unsteady. I was told some interpreted “freedom” as moving from the tyrants with titles to the grandchildren of the tyrants without official titles. The looting would go from stealing from the state directly to stealing from the state through “companies.” This was not an improvement. The old tyrants and grifters at least felt the need to build grandiose monuments and dysfunctional... Read more

Speak 3 Times, Each Time Louder: Weird Rules, Deeper Meaning

Last updated on: September 16, 2020 at 7:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Watch enough television, and sadly I have watched enough television, and you observe a rule: speak three times, each time with greater intensity, and those around you will take you seriously. The simple minded writer can merely make his character speak louder. Try this at home and you will discover that people will pay attention, perhaps not good attention, but attention. “I am tired,” he said softly as he looked into the kitchen. “I am tired,” he said firmly as... Read more

Lest We Forget: the Courage of Children, the Bravery of Adults

Last updated on: September 16, 2020 at 8:16 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Carol Denise McNair. Courage was required to go to 16th Street Baptist Church in the face of a summer of domestic terrorism. Your church was standing against the shadow of that hideous strength with light. The true light caused the vermin to scurry and become vicious. Members of a terrorist organization, the KKK, placed sticks of dynamite under a church, killed four children, and injured many. Why? The children had the courage of... Read more

Other Voices: One Election Perspective from Dr. Holloway- “Election of the Parasites” (Other Points of View to Follow)

Last updated on: September 14, 2020 at 7:13 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

My job precludes any public endorsement for President. There is (and has) been so much good work to do, that I have not had as much time to study the candidates and issues as in the past. After 2016 my days in talk radio ended. I still get asked about the race and occasionally give updates from the perspective of people I know. As the vote comes closer, here is one perspective. I will be publishing other points of view... Read more

Same Song, Different Peformance

Last updated on: September 13, 2020 at 10:24 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Can we make tomorrow, a common day, a beautiful day? Truth will help us, a basic pattern of loveliness can give guidance, and all the particular joys of our lives can enrich the day. In truth, without any compromise of that truth, can come glorious variation, forms of beauty, that make the world interesting. This week is likely to have a routine, but I am reminded to seek ways to give the day a good twist marking interest. This weekend marked a... Read more