Sometimes we praise people in our lives. Usually, we do this because it is helpful in some way. They have low self-esteem, they need encouragement, or they are discouraged. So, when I think about praising or worshipping God, it puts me in a little bit of a dilemma. I have to entertain the thought: Why does God need my worship? If He is holy and perfect and all the things we ascribe to, why does he need or require my... Read more
We’ve all been there. We were just going through the motions of a normal evening at home and one of us says something the creates a chain reaction of responses and, suddenly, we find ourselves asking the age-old question, “What Happened?” I am going to try to simplify this conversation, not because of anything other than I don’t want to have to write an academic paper this early in the morning. To make a long story short, we REACT because... Read more
Back in 2017, the anonymous Q and Q’Anon started gaining notoriety. Conspiracy theorists and other fringe groups don’t really have to present facts because they write in cryptic messages and deal in vagueness. Followers might admit they don’t believe everything prescribed, but the ambiguity of the whole process makes it easy to mold the messages into whatever cause that other groups are trying to promote. This might be okay for people to have a hobby of chasing wild theories. After... Read more
I would never call anyone stupid. I shouldn’t say never because I have done it in the past. Usually, it is out of anger or my own childishness that I throw out that label. But there are so many different kinds of cognitive impairments that this label really doesn’t describe the situation and even if it did, it is probably is not that person’s fault. We are just being mean-spirited when we call someone stupid, and not necessarily accurate. Willful... Read more
A post by my daughter Lily Holmes (who I call LB) The constant impending doom of a pandemic and out-of-control political climate do not lend themselves kindly to healthy coping mechanisms. I am personally a big fan of eating my feelings. However, as more time has passed, I have acquired more positive habits. Institutionalized learning has always come relatively easy to me. I loved reading as a child and had the correct brain chemistry to make me good at tests. I... Read more
I am currently stranded away from my home because of the snow. No big deal, I will get out in half a day or so, but it gave me time to write and work on my novel, The Hotel. As the main character searches for clues and wades through secrets about the hotel, he discovers much more about himself and how things get better. In a way, it’s like a treasure hunt, but also it’s different than we ever imagined.... Read more
Postcards from Babylon, the documentary centered around Brian Zahnd’s book of the same name releases this Thursday. I got the chance to review the documentary and loved it, espcially in light of the seige on the Capitol. It’s release is very timely. Instead of writing a review, I offere you a review from my friend, Rick, with links to the film and his original review. Enjoy! by Rick Pidcock The new Postcards From Babylon documentary comes out on January 21. And I... Read more
I’m writing a novel. It’s one of the most fun things I have done in a long time. You can totally make up the storyline and characters, but I chose to base a lot of it on real places and people and events. One of the couples in the story is loosely based on Laura and me. Here is a paragraph from The Hotel. “After 30 years of marriage, they sometimes communicated without talking. It was obvious that both... Read more
Alana Levandoski – “Ring Out, Wild Bells” My Canadian, contemplative friend Alana Levandoski has put music to an old poem and created a masterpiece. The Steam Punk themed video is a must see. This her explanation of the song and video that is perfect to RING in the new year! Youtube Video of the song From Alana: For New Years 2020. A steampunk-themed masquarade party with my brand new recording of Ring Out, Wild Bells. To receive Ring Out,... Read more
“Let me be crystal clear; if you’ve faced a tragedy and someone tells you in any way, shape or form that your tragedy was meant to be, that it happened for a reason, that it will make you a better person, or that taking responsibility for it will fix it, you have every right to remove them from your life.” Tim Lawrence For years, these types of responses to other people’s trauma were the default for the religious system that... Read more
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