icon caret-left icon caret-right instagram pinterest linkedin facebook twitter goodreads question-circle facebook circle twitter circle linkedin circle instagram circle goodreads circle pinterest circle

Another Perspective

The Pilgrim's Thirst

The great Spanish poet, Antonio Machado wrote:
It is good knowing that glasses
are to drink from;
the bad thing is not to know
what thirst is for.*

Evelyn Underhill, the exceptional English scholar of mysticism, wrote in an essay on "What is the Spiritual Life?": "So many Christians are like deaf people at a  Read More 
Be the first to comment

The Trickster

One of the little discussed features of the psyche is the trickster. My 1972 Funk and Wagnalls' Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend tells me: "Tricksters are found in the unwritten literature of peoples over all the world, and usually many tales or cycles are devoted to their exploits. ...The trickster is  Read More 
2 Comments
Post a comment

Remembering Rabi'a al-Adawiyya: An 8th Century Woman Mystic

There are many women throughout history whose elevated spiritual lives can inspire our own. When I was researching God and Dreams: Is There A Connection? I came across such a woman that most people do not know. Rabi'a (717-801) was a mystic, ascetic and one of the first Sufis. Like others who  Read More 
2 Comments
Post a comment

A Tribute to Merlin Olsen

My father died on a Wednesday in March of 1984. He was 71. His final day was a perfect one for him. He'd played golf, then signed documents to purchase a new home to be built on a golf course in Rancho Mirage. He celebrated the events of the day by going to dinner at a  Read More 
Be the first to comment

Christmas and the Fear of New Life

One aspect of the Christmas story that is often ignored is the portion told in Matthew 1:18-2:3. These verses recount how Mary became pregnant prior to marrying Joseph and Joseph’s decision to discreetly remove her from his life. Before he could, Joseph had a dream in which an angel of the Lord told  Read More 
Be the first to comment

Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?

There are a number of explanations for why Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

First, there are the historic reasons. The Gospels, unfortunately, offer conflicting data. The Gospel of Luke indicates Jesus was born in Bethlehem because a census was being taken that required Joseph to leave Nazareth to return to his  Read More 
10 Comments
Post a comment

My Role in the Dallas Cowboys’ First Game Ever

In August, 1960, I was 14. That summer I’d been attending a boy’s camp in Susanville, California. Two professional football players, Jack Ellena and Duane Putnam ran the camp. Jack and Duane had been teammates on the Los Angeles Rams in 1955. Both were offensive linemen. Jack had been a starter on UCLA’s undefeated  Read More 
1 Comments
Post a comment

Where I've Been

I haven't been blogging for a few months because I've been finalizing my new book, God and Dreams: Is There A Connection? It is now available at www.wipfandstock.com. Before jumping into my next writing project, I have some stories to share.
Be the first to comment

Beauty as a Spiritual Path to God

Beauty as a Spiritual Path to God

I was riding in Jim Hubbell’s van in Baja, California in the late 1990s when he asked me, “What is beauty?” I was stunned for a couple of reasons. First, I thought that it was an odd question. Who thinks about that stuff? Second, in spite  Read More 
Be the first to comment

Meeting Walter Cronkite

Meeting Water Cronkite

It was late January 1970 when I met Walter Cronkite. I was taking an extra year of seminary in order to participate in a church and society training program on Capitol Hill. I was 24 and working in the office of Senator Philip Hart (D–Michigan). The occasion for our meeting was President  Read More 
Be the first to comment