Onward and Upward!
As Sir Edmond Burke once observed, this country’s founders were always ready to “snuff out the approach of tyranny with every tainted brief.” And yet, it seems we are now resigned to live subject to the vast, multi-layered, and robust surveillance infrastructure that is the envy of every totalitarian regime? We can no longer trust … Read more
These hummingbird favorites are easy to plant and they will animate your garden in the most delightful way. Agastache: Quickly becoming a summer favorite, this perennial has fragrant foliage and spiky flowers of pink, purple, blue, red and orange. Hollyhock: Plant these and you’ll have sensational spires of flowers. A classic cottage garden plant that’s very easy … Read more
Dear Folks, What we dwell upon we help bring into manifestation. — Steps Toward Inner Peace, Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981) Pacifist A Plainspoken person always has to listen with the ears of the other person or people. It is possible for you to be Pacifistic even though the majority of humankind still believes aggression is not … Read more
Dear Folks, When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. — Author Unknown I was going to write a long Romantic poem about being Law-abiding but I thought I would simply suggest you get outside this spring and be thankful the laws of Ma Nature are so well balanced. Peace, … Read more
Dear Folks, Regard your neighbor’s gain as your won gain, and your neighbors loss as your won loss. — Taoism, T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien It is known: A Wholehearted dedication to the things that really matter does give a person a transcendently Placid temperament. We are all still battered with the vicissitudes of life, … Read more
Dear Folks, The Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance — Paul of Tarsus (c. 5-67) The Bible, Galatians 5:22 As the seasons change from the harsh days of winter to the Gentle days of spring, we have a physical reminder to approach life and others in an Affable … Read more
Dear Folks, We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) Poet These two qualities remind me of my brothers. They are Indefatigable artists. It is in their blood, but more importantly it is in their souls. Maybe they cannot help but see the world in beautiful patterns, but … Read more
Quite often, men of the world refer to believers as troublemakers; as Ahab called Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:16-18). Interestingly, Jesus might appear more of a troublemaker than a peacemaker, as people could not agree about him. Jesus explains, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did … Read more
Marc Gopin of George Mason University explores what makes peacemakers tick in Bridges Across an Impossible Divide. The book emanates from the “Unusual Pairs” film project, a series of videos that focuses on Israeli and Palestinian partners in the quest for peace. The narrative unfolds in the words of the peacemakers themselves as they search … Read more
A new book that tells a story set in war-torn Iraq sends a straightforward message applicable to everyday Americans: Get to know your neighbors. Greg Barrett, who worked in The Charlotte Observer’s Rock Hill bureau in the early 1990s, recently spoke at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he told the story of his book “The Gospel … Read more