(This is the second half of The Devil in God’s Bedroom. It begins with the final line from yesterday’s half.) GOD: [Adam and Eve] would never dream of disobeying me, because they will love me, and honor me, and do everything that they possibly can to please me. DEVIL: Of course they will. It’s beyond questioning. They are your creations, after all. And trust me: you entirely misunderstand my interest in them. I would not for a single moment think of... Read more
Not many people know this, but there was a time when Bonanza ‘s Little Joe Cartwright attended seminary college. Apparently concerned that he was a bit too avidly embracing the spirit of the place, Timothy “Toots” LaRue, the chancellor of Dusty Trails Divinity, sent Joe back to Ponderosa after only one semester. This is the only known picture of Joe from that brief and somewhat incongruent chapter of his life. Read more
(In one of the comment threads on my blog here the other day, the idea came up that, in The Book of Job, God and Satan act like frenemies. That notion reminded me of something I haven’t thought about in a great many years, which is a dialogue I once imagined taking place between God and the devil. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of the supreme leaders of heaven and hell talking together; this is one of the... Read more
How to choose the winning entry in my Guess the Fate of the Earth and the Human Race! Win a Free Book! contest? I can’t. Any one of at least fifteen entries could easily be deemed best. So, basically, I’m choosing these at random: The #1 spot goes to Brian Shields, whose two entries are here and here. The #2 spot goes to Larry Long, whose very funny answer is here. (more…) Read more
When I contemplate the breadth and depth of my wisdom, I marvel like unto one beholding for the first time the Grand Canyon, or the moon through a telescope, or a full-grown white shark, moving unstoppably toward its goal. What don’t I know? Love, God, relationships, art, why we are here, what we are to do … Chinese food on a budget. I know it all. I’m never in doubt as to which thoughts or feelings are best. Such knowledge,... Read more
I’m not anti-Father’s Day, or anything like that. And (what with having been born of one and all), I’m hardly anti-fathers. My own father isn’t a bad guy. Never meant anyone harm. Good provider. Didn’t get high. Wasn’t physically abusive. Didn’t sleep around. Not the worst! Had problems, yes. Had problems enough, in fact, to help drive my sister from our home when she was fifteen years old, and me soon after my seventeenth birthday. Over the next twenty-five years of... Read more
First of all, let me apologize for being so out of commission yesterday and today. No fair calling a contest, and then checking out for two days. Wrong! I was wrong. I feel guilty. Oh, wait. I’m a Christian. Gimme a moment. Cool! Guilt gone! Ha, ha, ha. Ah, salvation humor. Good times. (more…) Read more
In the comment section of yesterday’s “Have BP Execs Committed Manslaughter?,” a spirited little side-debate started about the ultimate fate of the earth. “How sad to think that we seem to be witnessing the rapid approach of the death of this beautiful planet,” said “Appalachiana.” (more…) Read more
I thought the comment that reader Elizabeth Fullerton sent in response to a little status thing I posted on my Facebook page (“Tony “Backwards Pedaller” Hayward: Your conscience called. It hates you.”) was worth posting here. In response to my Hayward gibe, Elizabeth wrote: (more…) Read more
Who said Christians shouldn't have negative emotions? Not God, that's for sure. Read more
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