Author of the novel JACK.
The Geneva Bible (a Christmas gift to my son) This is the first complete English translation of the Bible taken entirely from the original languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. William Tyndale undertook the first such work, but he was martyred prior to completing the task, having initially translated the New Testament followed by parts … Read moreTo my son, Christmas 2023
An Open Letter To My Children (part 4) My Dear Children, About the TitleI borrowed the title of this letter from a book written by Charles Darwin titled On the Origin of Species and from an article published by John Taylor titled Origin, Object, and Destiny of Women. Although this piece is nothing like either … Read moreOn the Origin and Destiny of Man
My Dear Children, A parent carries a heavy burden. For instance, my decisions impact not only my own life but the lives of my children and likely multiple generations after them, as well. The thought shakes me to the core. There are minor decisions and there are major decisions. In spite of the unavoidable consequences … Read moreOpen Letter To My Children (part 3)
Cowboys and Indians I grew up in Short Creek straddling the Utah/Arizona border. For reasons which I will describe, I do not think fondly of this town. I’m not saying that I didn’t enjoy my childhood. I did. The mountains, the creek, the skies, and the dirt were a child’s dream. My family life was … Read moreThis Is Short Creek
The title of this piece references not just one thing that I love, but two: God and Science. Science is the premier tool that we humans have developed to actually read the mind and will of God. This is important because he’s not talking to us. Instead, he surrounded us with mysteries and subtle clues … Read moreGod, I Love Science
Unsettling Questions Years ago (and throughout my spiritual journey), tough questions began percolating to the surface of my mind. These questions took different forms, but they all fell into a few simple categories: God, his holy nature, and my relationship with him (if indeed there was one). Some of these questions were so unsettling that … Read moreMaking Satan
In the context of God, the term “agnostic” is often misunderstood. Unless this is something that a person has really thought about extensively, one might think that it means undecided, uncommitted, or unconcerned. To compound the difficulty in understanding this term, we must accept that the meaning of language is determined by usage. Nevertheless, I … Read moreIntelligence & Agnosticism
The statement that “Jesus was not Christian” means that many of the doctrines and beliefs held by mainstream Christianity cannot be traced to Jesus. Furthermore, the statement is not trivialized by the fact that he was a Jew. No one was ever more Christian than Paul and he was a Jew, too. Jesus actually departed … Read moreJesus Was Not Christian (part 3)
Jesus was certainly a great hero and lovable beyond compare. He brought a message of peace and love that deeply resonated with people. He healed the sick and consoled the broken hearted. He rested the weary and filled their hearts with the hope that their troubles and sorrows would be recompensed with immeasurable joy. People … Read moreJesus Was Not Christian (part 2)
Christianity is a religion, but Jesus was not religious, at least not by most standards. For instance, Jesus relied on observation and reason, not visions and revelations, to form his ideas and philosophies. This characteristic was so striking with him that people reportedly were astonished at his teachings, saying that he spoke as one having … Read moreJesus Was Not Christian (part 1)