Russian Spying: "It Didn't Do Us Much Good"

The recent arrest of a "ring" of Russian spies in the US brings back memories of the Cold War--well, for those of us who were alive and aware at the time.  Readers of this blog know that I have a lifelong interest in Russia that ended up with some interesting business and other types of …

Kagan's Confirmation: Getting the Judiciary to do the Legislature's Job

E.J. Dionne is sounding awfully triumphalistic these days: This week's hearings over Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court will mark a sea change in the way liberals argue about the judiciary. Democratic senators are planning to put the right of citizens to challenge corporate power at the centre of their critique of activist conservative …

Sometimes Permanence is a Liability: The Lesson of Meyers Luggage

The death of Palm Beach luggage dealer Edwin R. Meyers brings back some interesting memories of travel gone by.  Meyers Luggage played a crucial role in my family's foreign travel, but my last encounter made me do something I never thought I would do. In the 1960's my parents did a great deal of travel …

You Will Never Be Forgotten for Being a Jerk

This gem of wisdom, from Engineering Tips: I would like to offer a suggestion that in your dealings with your co-workers, colleagues, fellow industry professionals, bosses, underlings, secretaries and the general public, put on your happy face and be polite.  Your rewards may be few or none for doing the right thing, but YOU WILL NEVER …

Is This the Parting Point Between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion?

Drew asked me an interesting question regarding this in response to a previous post: Do you think that at any point in the foreseeable future, the ABC or the rest of the Anglican Communion will sever its ties with the ECUSA in favor of one of its rivals? The short answer is this: I think …

My Thoughts on the 2010 Church of God General Assembly Agenda

Now that I've published this, it's time to move on and consider what's in front of our church at its 2010 General Assembly in Orlando next month.  The agenda is online and can be found here. This review is not intended to be comprehensive.  It is informed by more than a quarter of a century …

The Direct Road to Jefferts Schori vs. Williams Started When She Was Elected: A Prediction from 2006

While researching something else, this, from a post I made in the wake of TEC's GC 2006: There is no question that most of the Anglican Communion will not stomach the election of a woman Presiding Bishop, especially one that supports homosexuals the way she does. There is also no question that the Episcopal church …

An Aggie Explains John 10:11-16

Where we read the following: I am the Good Shepherd; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me-- Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold; I must lead them …

Crossing the Rainbow Bridge: A Pentecostal Saga

Back when I was growing up, we'd descend from Palm Beach and venture to the Florida Keys for vacation, navigating waters such as shown at the right.  One of the more memorable side trips we took was a visit to a museum where artefacts from sunken Spanish galleons were on display.  The Spanish were most …

Gregory the Great on Rome (and Perhaps Us) Prepared to Decline

This, from his Homilies on the Gospel 28, is just too much like our own time: There was long life and health, material prosperity, growth of population and the tranquillity of daily peace, yet while the world was flourishing in itself, in their hearts it had withered away. Our epitaph also? Translation from Donald Dudley's …

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