It’s a brief amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but one so significant our local newspaper includes it on its daily editorial page: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably…
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At one time, I did some editing work for a conservative financial columnist who regularly lamented our nation’s profligate spending. He pointed out how Barack Obama criticized George Bush for the national debt increasing to $10 trillion—then turned around and nearly doubled it in eight years. The past four years, former President Donald Trump presided…
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With scenes of the U.S. Capitol under siege fresh in our minds, and a president departing in disgrace, I’m sure the doomsday prophets are in high gear about now. I can imagine sales of survival kits, emergency food, and generators going through the roof this year. Not to mention multiplied numbers of online conspiracy theorists…
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It’s one of the shorter verses of Scripture and yet it’s always been a personal favorite: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” The words of Psalm 37:4 came to mind during a recent discussion with our small men’s group (like so many things these days, on…
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We can get food in minutes (seconds if we’re really in a hurry), can follow breaking news in real time, and consider last week ancient history. So, even before the Jan. 6 riot and attempted insurrection that temporarily halted approval of the Electoral College results, many had already judged the job President Donald Trump has…
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As we enter the new year of 2021 with millions hoping for anything but a repeat of 2020, I think it’s time to inject a note of optimism into a world that many paint as a dismal scenario. It comes from an interview I read recently with bestselling romance novelist Beverly Jenkins. According to Writer’s…
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Time magazine probably expressed the feelings of millions with its recent cover story, “2020: The Worst Year Ever.” However, at the risk of appearing insensitive, tone deaf, or braggadocious, I think of 2020 as my best year ever. Not because it was my best year for income in more than 35 years of freelancing. I’m…
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We call it our “Charlie Brown” tree. Measuring 20 inches high and containing just a few branches, it reminds us of the one that made “A Charlie Brown Christmas” into must-see seasonal TV after its 1965 debut. Like so many knickknacks that have made their way into our home, we aren’t sure where we bought…
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Answering my smartphone used to be a pedestrian process: touch the green button when the phone rang and it answered, even if the phone was in sleep mode. Then came a new method I never asked for: to answer, I have to punch the button and swipe right after it rings. I discovered this the…
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While much of the nation lapsed into a frenzy of presidential vote-counting myopia during election week, I spent time quietly celebrating the passage of Proposition 22 in California. I even came up with a private chant: “Up with the gig economy! Down with the Nanny State!” I cheered because the measure turned back an effort…
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