“DISSOCIATION” — Where a song’s meaning and lyrics have absolutely nothing to do with the memories associated with it. LATE AUGUST 1982 — To say I was depressed was an understatement. I was in the fourth month of a downward slump I thought I’d never recover from. And the approaching month of September did not look any different. In all of the bad, there was some good. I had plenty of time on my hands,…
I’m in my 60s now — so, naturally, I think of death quite often… Seriously — have you ever noticed how many guys (and I do mean guys) check out at 63? Well, I have. It’s almost like we have a “Logan’s Run” set up. As soon as you turn 63, your life-clock goes off and it’s Carousel time, never to return. For the last 60-plus years, death is not something I’ve given much thought…
It still confuses me. Sometimes I think, What a blessing! Then there are other times I just face-palm myself and ask, Why? Blessings and/or curses (sometimes with real swear words). What am I talking about? Religion. And its role in my life. Remember – you can’t choose where you were born. Or to whom. Or your financial situation. Or what beliefs you will be taught. What is good. What is bad. Classical music – good.…
It is both puzzling and fascinating to me when I hear pre-college age students who have a very clear vision of where they are going to college, what they are going to study, and how they are going to build a résumé (extracurricular activities, volunteer work, etc.) that will benefit them when they submit their college application. I had none of that. As a young kid, I wanted to be a truck driver. Later, our…
~ ACT VI ~ A couple of things … First — Along with all of God’s other attributes, can He be too forgiving? Second — All of us, the good, the bad, and the ugly, we all live and breath in the presence of God. My opinion on Hell is this: being “cast into hell” is being ushered into a place where God has chosen not to be. A place where He has withdrawn His…
~ PART V ~ No. I did not make this up. Most of this quote came from the Los Angeles Times (09/20/2004) — but since the LA Times has an annoying paywall, here is the same quote (and article, I believe) from another source. One rule that I was taught: if you give, do not expect anything back. It’s called “giving” for a reason. This list of names was put together in 2011. Since then,…
~ ACT IV ~ If you don’t know (that’s okay) Richard Dawkins is avowed atheist, an evolutionary biologist by training, probably best known for his 2006 book The God Delusion. Dawkins is a pleasant guy possessing a quick wit and he’s a fine writer, as well. Personally, I don’t think God would be too enthused about sending Dr. Dawkins out of His presence. In 2011, the right frame above (“Umm! Nice!”) would not have been…
~ ACT III ~ *“The Holy Land Experience” (2001-2020) in Orlando, Florida was open when this cartoon was put together. I used to sarcastically say that it was “Holy Land Lite” — all the holy with half the Jews. When this cartoon was put together, The Holy Land Experience was owned by the spiritual gurus at Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the Crouch family. Wasn’t long after that the park started to go downhill in revenue…
~ ACT II ~ Death and the Afterlife. Everyone has an opinion as to what happens when we shuffle off this mortal coil. One of my uncles (a pastor) used to hope that Heaven was one softball game after another. Doubt if he was serious, but still, if you like softball, and he did … Some serious responses: • Nothing. Your brain is you. Your brain dies. You are gone.• You return to the same…
The Chick Who Published It was the first Chick Tract I had ever read. “THIS WAS YOUR LIFE” in big red letters on what looked like a movie screen floating in space. I don’t remember how many times I thumbed through this tract. I really like the drawings — I liked to think of myself as a cartoonist, of sorts — so I was drawn (sorry) to studying this little booklet from front paper cover…
The Lump Put this together for my personal Facebook page. It was never intended to be part of a blog, but I think it works. Apologies to cartoonist Bill Watterson, a man who I consider one of the greatest cartoonists ever. Listen, I bought all of your books, so mutilating one cartoon of yours surely is acceptable in your sight… To make the cartoon LARGER, hover over it and right click “Open Image in New…
Many Names, One Place “The Fortress of Faith” Bob Jones University or BJU, a very conservative religious university currently located in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. The university got its name from its founder, Bob Jones, Sr., who was a traveling evangelist in the early 20th century, a contemporary of Billy Sunday and musician Homer Rodeheaver. Subsequent BJU presidents were Bob Jones, Jr., Bob Jones III, and Stephen Jones — Stephen Jones was the last of…
