Faith & Society

The politics of envy

I was excited when I learned that the parents of a student I knew produced a product my family used and enjoyed. His response to me was “Yea, they’re getting rich off you.” He was quite confused when I replied … Continue reading

Ronald Reagan on Religious Tolerance

Editor’s note: This article first appeared at American Spectator. February is the month that we recognize our presidents. It has also become the month that Republicans remember Ronald Reagan. Reagan’s birthday is February 6, the forerunner to Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), Washington’s birthday … Continue reading

Shirley Temple’s America

I learned only yesterday that Shirley Temple, the iconic child actress, died earlier this week at age 85. Reports on her death were easy to miss. I went through my usual scan of various websites and saw nothing. I fortunately … Continue reading

Mind Control

Ten degrees, below zero. Bitter wind chills. Snow to shovel. Nasty head cold. Stuffy and sneezy. Coughing. But I choose to control my thinking. I choose not to ruminate on todays’ struggles, real and difficult though they are. Instead, I … Continue reading

Can you read this essay?

If you are still following along, then you can answer in the affirmative. According to a recent CNN article, however, a surprising number of the college athletes we watch playing basketball or football can only answer in the negative (“Some … Continue reading

Alone Again?

Our elderly church member and friend had been widowed, again. When we visited his home, we saw that he had written on his calendar, “Alone again.” He was a man of strong faith, and he was not questioning the presence … Continue reading

Mister Rogers vs. the Unity Tree

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I was walking by Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue last week when struck by our city’s “Unity Tree.” It’s a curious thing about the Unity Tree: it only comes out … Continue reading

A miracle or coincidence?

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared at Forbes.com. Every now and then, something unforeseen and special happens—something that logic or reason would tell you is either impossible or that the odds against it happening are overwhelming. And yet those things … Continue reading