Mourning the Hopelessness of a Jewish Seder
Until now, the Seder has been a mystery to me. Being raised a Christian, I knew little about Jewish traditions or celebrations. Of course, I knew our Savior was crucified during the Passover and the Exodus story on which it is based. But I knew nothing of the Seder,...
Early Lessons In Empathy
My family, circa 1940. I had yet to be born. Each of us experiences childhood in unique ways, for each soul is unique. If believers allow these formative experiences to teach us, we may use these lessons learned as we walk with Him. I often reflect on my...
The Two Redemptions of Vincent van Gogh
Throughout his short life, Vincent van Gogh experienced obstacle after obstacle as he pursued his two passions – Christian ministry and art. Rejecting the rigid conventions of both the church and art establishments, van Gogh followed his own muse.
Behind Prison Walls by David Berkowitz – “Thoughts on Anne Frank”
Editor's Note: "Behind Prison Walls by David Berkowitz" is a new series of contributions by our brother David. His reflections on Anne Frank have been abridged from a number of his journal entries appearing on his website AriseAndShine.org. Anne Frank was a young...
Thieves On Crosses: Reflections on Rocky Sullivan in ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’
At life’s end, even the most hardened sinner can be saved, like James Cagney’s Rocky Sullivan in “Angels with Dirty Faces.”
On P.F. Sloan’s ‘Eve of Destruction’
In Acts, chapter 17, Paul addresses the Athenians. Speaking of God, he says: “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Surprisingly, Paul is actually quoting two pagan poets in that...
Art and the Believer
From the earliest times, mankind has found self-expression in the arts. On a practical level, we see creativity in our bridges, buildings, and skyscrapers. These are often the result of beautifully envisioned and highly imaginative architectural...
My Sister Linda and Pornography
“It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret,” says Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. With that in mind, I will take care in what I write. The “sexual revolution” of the 1960s produced a culture radically different from that of a few years...
Sacrificial Love and 1932’s ‘One Way Passage’
I first saw the movie ”One Way Passage” at a film class screening in Manhattan’s New School for Social Research back in the 1970s. It stars William Powell as Dan and Kay Francis as Joan. At the time this classic was produced our society’s moral underpinnings – its...