Left Behind, pp. 423-424 “I have a message and an answer for people genuinely seeking,” the Rev. Bruce Barnes tells Buck Williams, adding that, if Buck meets that stipulation, “I have all the time you need.” “Well, sir,” Buck said, nearly staggered by the emotion and humility he heard in his own voice, “I appreciate that.” Strolling through Left Behind, one frequently winds up tripping over phrases like that. They force one to stop, turn around and inspect the ground,... Read more
Left Behind, pp. 421-423 The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity We left Buck Williams sitting in his car parked in front of New Hope Village Church, "his head in his hands." And there he sits for the next page, musing about how his carefully planned and ordered life had been knocked off balance by recent events: But nothing had prepared him for the disappearances or for the violent deaths of his friends. While he... Read more
I’m at the awkward stage of moving where nearly everything is sealed in boxes. The first dozen or so boxes were neatly sorted and labeled. The last dozen are unlabelable, although I suppose I could write “Stuff that didn’t fit in the other boxes.” I’ve got to make one more run to Goodwill and probably one more run to the liquor store (for more boxes — the place looks like I’m running some kind of black market bootleg and office-supply... Read more
Thank you, hapax, for the link to St. John Chrysostom’s Easter sermon. I had been thinking of posting John Donne’s “Holy Sonnet X” or perhaps Wendell Berry’s “The Mad Farmer Liberation Front” (which is where the title for this post comes from), but let’s just leave it to the golden-tongued Archbishop of Constantinople: First and last alike, receive your reward.Rich and poor, rejoice together! Conscientious and lazy, celebrate the day!You who have kept the fast, and you who have not,rejoice,... Read more
And softly murmured, ‘Someday soon …’ “Brand New,” BoDeans “Brand New Dance,” Emmylou Harris “Brand New Day,” Eurythmics “Brand New Day,” Van Morrison “Brand New Lover,” Marshall Crenshaw “Brandy Alexander,” Feist “Brass in Pocket,” The Pretenders “Brave Faces,” Midnight Oil “Brazil,” Pink Martini “Bread of Heaven,” Katie Howard I finally finished uploading the vinyl into iTunes, except for the records that were too scratched even when dripping wet. Anybody know where you can find a No. 1 pencil nowadays? With... Read more
Left Behind, pp. 421 After the Steeles meet with the Rev. Bruce Barnes, it’s Buck Williams’ turn: Two hours after the Steeles had left, Buck Williams parked his rental car in front of New Hope Village Church in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The real Mount Prospect is home to more than a dozen churches. I can’t help but wonder if they also exist in the fictional world of Left Behind and, if so, what’s going on at their buildings while Bruce... Read more
I’m guessing a professional political consultant would advise against this, but here’s something like what I’d like to hear each of the leading Democratic presidential candidates say. From Barack Obama: “Sen. Clinton would make a fine president. Now I know there are some voters who might not want to vote for a woman for president. If that’s you, if you’re going to vote for me because you just don’t want to vote for a woman, then let me say this... Read more
Or, Tribulation is a force that gives us meaning. Left Behind, pp. 418-421 Meanwhile, in the suburbs outside of Chicago, a warm, domestic scene with the remaining members of the Steele family. Newly converted Chloe Steele voraciously reads in her dear departed mother’s Bible and her father, immensely pleased, sits watching her. But not at all in a creepy way: Rayford Steele was a happy as he had been since his own decision to receive Christ. To see Chloe smiling,... Read more
That photo is by Dean J. Koepfler of The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash. Their caption for it reads: With his son Steve at his side, Doug Donery breaks down following a Pierce County Council meeting about the impending closure of his mobile home park. Doug Donery, 60, is disabled. His wife Pattie “is recovering from two heart attacks and has a brain tumor.” They have one year to move, Scott Fontaine reports: Their manufactured home is likely unmovable, and... Read more
Geraldine Ferraro, please shut up. The first link there is to the Daily Breeze article in which former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro said this: “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” she continued. “And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is.” Being black in America is all win, see? There’s no downside. No obstacles to overcome.... Read more
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