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“In December 2012, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 20 children, six adults, and himself. Since then, there have been at least 1,607 mass shootings, with at least 1,846 people killed and 6,459 wounded.” (https://www.vox.com/a/mass-shootings-sandy-hook)  Here is a map that shows the locations of these 1607 mass shootings. We are not sure why but …

Enough is enough! Please listen to us, not the gun lobby. Read More »

Walter Breuggeman in Reality, Grief, Hope provides a scripture-based process for coming to terms with the signs of the times.”  In an earlier post, I dealt with the reality process of becoming clear about what has happened.  In this case, it was the 2016 presidential election.  I tried in that post to be as clear as …

A step back, a deep breath, a reassessment: Grief Read More »

Walter Breuggemann in Reality, Grief, Hope:  Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks provides what was to me a revitalized understanding of the ministry of the Hebrew Scripture prophets:  Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea.  The easy popular understanding is that these prophets could foresee the future.  This misunderstanding makes it difficult to see the full meaning of prophecy and those …

Unexpected modern prophets Read More »

I was stunned by the results of the recent presidential election. I had a hard time believing that the electorate would reject a continuation of the social programs that have been so important to our nation: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and various protections of social and economic groups on the margin. My deep roots in …

A step back, a deep breath, and a reassessment: Reality Read More »

Earlier this month, I attended a panel discussion at the World War I National Memorial and Museum in Kansas City.  Dr. Matthew Naylor, President of the Museum, made some observations that frightened me.  “There has never been a time since 1913 that is more like 1913 than today.”  In 1913 the world and especially the …

1913 again? Read More »

When I was recently asked what my motto is, I first thought of the sentence that serves as title of this post.  I realize that everyone is not always doing the best he or she can.  When I reflect on my own life, I realize that there were times when I intentionally did not do …

Everyone is doing the best she or she can. Read More »

A column by David Brooks (NY Times) brought my grandmother, Anna Catherine (Nancy) Campbell Platt Norris to my mind and heart. In the view of most, she had a hard life. At the age of 20 with no education beyond grade school, the father of her two little girls under three left and was never …

Grandma and “dispositional gratitude” Read More »

As presidential campaigns begin, it is important to understand the difference between these two and the people who benefit from them. The so-called federal entitlement programs include Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid along with a few others.  These programs totaled $1.9 trillion for 2010 exlcuding Veterans benefits.   Ninety-one percent of these benefits go to …

Expenditure Entitlements and Tax Entitlements Read More »

Recent search shows that even on a county by county basis, greater income inequality negatively impacts overall health.  A study from Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin provides evidence that living in a more unequal U.S. county is associated with lower levels of health as measured by likelihood of dying before age 75. …

Income Inequality and Health Read More »

While in Scottsdale, I have been wearing the FitBit that my son, Sean, gave me.  It has begun to manage my life.  It does not sense by heart rate but it does count my steps.  By default it sets a daily goal of 10,000 steps which is equivalent to five miles of walking.  I can …

The Tyrrany of FitBit Read More »