Note to Readers:

This post is aimed primarily at practicing Christians and at those who wish to know more about Christianity. I preached this brief sermon at Zion UCC, Baltic, Ohio on Sunday, March 18. It is based on a study I did of the subject matter which was posted here… Read full post »

Why now?

I  just celebrated my 72nd birthday, and have decided that it is none too soon to begin fleshing out my personal memoir, bits and pieces of which are already written, but with huge gaps remaining. As the old saw says, "I am not getting any younger."

As a child I was… Read full post »

I haven't spent much, hardly any, time here lately, but there seems to be a bit of panic going on, again, on OS. This time its what happens if Salon.com sells out, folds, etc. It could happen, but does not look very imminent.

 I wondered about what would happen to my… Read full post »

 Traditional Lighted Moravian Star

 

These essays are part of my ongoing, and developing, Christian Calendar Series. The links are posted here for those who like to reflect on the truths, beliefs and faith associated with those who celebrate these holy days in the life of believers… Read full post »

Note: While this is written from my Christian perspective, I believe this essay raises issues for people of all faiths or of no faith at all.

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Luke 17:11-19

Jesus was passing along the border of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, ten men who were… Read full post »

 

Note: about 7 months ago I was “cleaning up” my blog and took out a lot of old posts that I no longer thought should be left on the blog. But since then I have had a number of people ask me what happened to this or that Musical… Read full post »

I haven’t written a post specifically on faith since May 11. However, it is important to me to write only when I think I have something useful to say. My short series on alcoholism certainly was driven by my faith and I shared with you its central… Read full post »

 

 From left: Lee Hayes, Ronnie Gilbert, Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman

I don't write about politics much anymore, but this nation is at a cusp in its direction and we ought to think about and discuss something that can determine the direction of the nation for the next decade.

Try as one might, it is not possible even for a President… Read full post »

Note: about 6 months ago I was “cleaning up” my blog and took out a lot of old posts that I no longer thought should be left on the blog. But since then I have had a number of people ask me what happened… Read full post »

I have struggled with how to wrap up this brief series. I do not want to go into detail because most of the people who were friends, some of whom were also alcoholics, are still living and I have no right to expose them, even disguised, in this… Read full post »

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 “Hello, I’m Monte, and I’m an alcoholic. It has been 20 years since my last drink.”

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I have long felt that a key sign of maturation is the willingness to appreciate and live with delayed gratification. A practicing alcoholic has no concept of that.… Read full post »

 

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“Hello, I’m Monte, and I’m an alcoholic. It has been 20 years since my last drink.”

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On June 28, 2010 I celebrated 20 years of sobriety, one day at a time. I had forgotten the date until Sue came to me and put her… Read full post »

 

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Larry Gatlin has been one of my favorites for almost 40 years. He was one of the so-called “countrypolitian” singers of the 70s and 80s who helped bridge the gap between country and pop. He has 33 Top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Country Charts.

What many/…

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Hi, everyone,

 I need a break and will be off of OS in June. No problems. Just want to do some other things I have been neglecting, including reading books, and listening to music, watching movies, and watching ball games without the computer in my lap multitasking. But,… Read full post »

Note: This is an edited version of a post about Memorial Day that I posted here last year. It is based on a Memorial Day address I gave in 2005 at the Dover, Ohio Memorial Day observance.

Not enough people/… Read full post »

 

 

Don Williams has a birthday today, May 27, 2010. For 7 months he and I will be the same age, 71. For not quite a half century now he has been singing professionally and I have been listening. It has been an easy relationship that never grows… Read full post »

Anne Cutri produced one of her best psalms today. You can read it here:

http://open.salon.com/blog/anne_cutri/2010/05/11/hold_fast_the_words_of_saint_clare_of_assisi

I commented, "Indeed, Anne. Indeed. This is one of your best. I have read it a dozen times and each time I find more meaning… Read full post »

Related posts in this series on Resurrection Faith may be found in the column to the left of this page under The Christian Calendar Series. This essay originally appeared here in May, 2009 and has been edited for 2010.

I first posted a version of this essay on May 9, 2009. The response was large and quite a bit of previously layered over feeling was shared by the commenters. I think that is all to the good. Sometimes we stuff in things that we do not want to deal with,… Read full post »

Related posts in this series on Resurrection Faith may be found in the column to the left of this page under The Christian Calendar Series. This essay originally appeared here in May, 2009 and has been extensively edited for 2010.

Related posts in this series on Resurrection Faith may be found in the column to the left of this page under The Christian Calendar Series. This essay originally appeared here in May, 2009 and has been extensively edited for 2010.

I have told you that I believe that the appearances of the… Read full post »

Let the river rock you like a cradle
Climb to the treetops, child, if you`re able
Let your hands tie a knot across the table.
Come and touch the things you cannot feel.

And close your fingertips and fly where I can`t hold… Read full post »

This essay has been edited for 2010. It was first published on May 6, 2009. It is a summary of the message of the resurrection appearances and lays the groundwork for looking at the accounts in the three synoptic Gospel accounts of those appearances.

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 For a Christian, the appearances of…

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