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The term, hold the line, originally referred to military tactics in which a line of troops was supposed to prevent an enemy breakthrough. The non-military meaning today alludes to maintaining the existing position or state of affairs. Like many people, I think Gen. James Mattis’ remarks to his troops about “holding the line” are inspiring:Read more

Albert Einstein: “To us humans, except for physicists, time always seems to move at the same rate and in the same direction—from past through the present into the future. For those of us who believe in physics, the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” William Faulkner: “The past isRead more

The pending publication of my newest books—Going Forward, a novella, and Indomitable, a novel—prompted me to reflect upon the writing aspects of my life. My writing life began in Ms. Mildred McCain’s freshman English class at LaGrange (GA) High School. At that time, freshman English classes traditionally studied Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. A student mock trialRead more

In my previous post, I discussed the fatal flaws at the core of socialism, e.g. the embedded anti-democratic nature of that economic and social system.[1] This post deals with the fatal flaws of American-styled capitalism. Definitions A serviceable definition of capitalism is: An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital or wealth—products,Read more

Fatal flaws exist at the cores of American-style capitalism and socialism, even the oxymoronic democratic socialism. This post deals with socialism; a subsequent post will focus on capitalism. Definitions Many proponents of socialism tend to confuse the assumed benefits (e.g., free college expenses, free childcare, guaranteed income, free universal healthcare, equality of outcomes) with theRead more

Abortion is inherently different from other medical procedures because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart I spent much of my professional life working to help premature babies survive. My religious sensitivities and my professional work lead me to abhor abortion except in cases when aRead more

Scott Fitzgerald: The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. The Wikipedia definition of cognitive dissonance: “The mental discomfort (psychological stress) experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.Read more

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa: I voted for Mr. Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential election. During the 2016 electoral season, Andrea and I were residents at Brookdale Becket Meadows, an assisted living facility, in Austin, TX. The Travis County Board of Elections designated Becket Meadows as an early voting center and assigned sixRead more

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11 Holy Scripture presents two apparently contradictory and competing visions about how humans function within God’s created order—as the beneficiaries of free will versus vassalsRead more

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 The Bible is true, and some of it actually happened. Marcus Borg Can Holy Scripture be inspired through the Holy Spirit without depicting reality in every respect, including all branches of physical, biological, and social sciences? For instance,Read more