Archive for August, 2008
First Day of Class
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Yesterday marked the first day of school for many children around the nation. It also became the first day of the teaching career of my oldest son, Josh, as well as his wife, Bethany. After working their way through […]
Dennis Skillicorn Update: A Temporary Reprieve
Monday, August 25th, 2008For those of you who have been following the travails of death row inmate Dennis Skillicorn, his execution scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed. The Missouri Supreme Court has delayed the capital punishment for at least 30 days while attorneys for Dennis prepare a clemency petition.
The case continues to draw considerable coverage in the press. […]
Visiting Death Row
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008Dennis Skillicorn knows he will die a week from today. He is praying that God will be glorified.
Unless Gov. Matt Blunt intervenes, Dennis will become the first inmate in nearly three years to be executed by the State of Missouri. The case has drawn considerable media attention and clergy interest.
I met Dennis six years ago […]
Keeping Company at 50
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008USA Today last week published an article about famous people who are turning 50 this year. Alas, I didn’t make the list, even though I qualify on the age part.
I’m not sure I’m all that excited to be in the company of some of the more noteworthy babies born in 1958. Many of them seem […]
If Dogs Vote, McCain Wins
Monday, August 18th, 2008I understand opinion polls that ask voters which presidential candidate they prefer based on such factors as religiosity. For instance, a June Gallup poll indicated that John McCain would defeat Barack Obama 57-32 percent among white voters who say religion is an important part of their daily lives. The poll is relevant because spirituality is […]
Family Viewing? Not in 2008
Thursday, August 14th, 2008There are few family-themed shows on the broadcast networks anymore and those that exist are hardly testaments to the traditional family. Dysfunction seems to be a prerequisite for a TV household these days.
But as I sampled some of the TV fare out there to be knowledgeable for an article in Sunday’s Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, I […]
Family TV? What a Joke
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008On Tuesday I listed wholesome examples of the TV American family through the years that have enjoyed tremendous ratings success (watch for Sunday’s article in TPE.)
For the sake of research, I subjected myself to watching episodes of what now constitutes popular programs. Some comedies in particular seem to be nothing more than one long stream […]
The Vanishing TV Family
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008I don’t watch much television, at least new shows. Beyond Jeopardy! and Monk, there’s not much I find to my liking.
But recently I subjected myself to watching all sorts of current fare for the sake of research. In a TPE feature story that will be in Sunday’s edition, I write about how television in the […]
Travel Notes
Thursday, August 7th, 2008Taking a trip always affords someone who works in a Christian environment to see how the world is coping with life. If this week’s jaunt to Pittsburgh is any indication, some Americans aren’t exactly rolling with the punches. I ran into a couple of loud-mouthed complainers who make the Ugly American look good.
While eating in […]
Christian TV Done Right
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008On Monday I had the privilege of being interviewed in Pittsburgh by Ron Hembree, host of Cornerstone TeleVision. Four days a week Ron presides over a one-hour program called Focus 4. Ron—who worked for four years at Assemblies of God headquarters in his younger days—is a great interviewer while keeping the show moving. He’s relaxed, […]