Author Archives: profbartling1

LINCOLN AND MLK – HATE VS. FORGIVENESS

October 26, 2011 Philip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace  in the chapter Arsenal of Grace quotes Alexander  Solshenitsyn:  “Only a small crack. . . . but cracks make caves collapse.”  Later in this chapter references are made to Lincoln and Martin Luther King as champions of grace and national reconciliation. Interesting is the factContinue reading “LINCOLN AND MLK – HATE VS. FORGIVENESS”

POLITICS AND THE CHURCH’S BULLY PULPIT

Headline 9/20/2011 in the STARTRIBUNE TWIN CITIES+REGION section: BACHMAN-HAMMOND: JUST THE TICKET FOR OUR TIMES Writer Jon Tevlin observes that both politics as well as religion make strange bedfellows.  Rev. Mac Hammond, local televangelist from Living Word Christian Center has joined as an advisor the Bachmann campaign.

THE NOVEL “PASSING” – LIGHT SKINNED ENOUGH TO PASS AS WHITE

October 8, 2011 Recently a program that reviewed new books in the Becketwood library one in particular caught my attention.  Immediately I understood it to be the flip-side, or northern racial version of the novel and movie “”Help” set in the South. (See blog – Aug 21: HELP WANTED – MAIDS OF HONOR  and “KILLERS OF THEContinue reading “THE NOVEL “PASSING” – LIGHT SKINNED ENOUGH TO PASS AS WHITE”

LYNX BRILLIANT COMPARED WITH MINNESOTA “WOBEGONE” BIG TIME MALE SPORTS

Sunday sports page: “Bumblin’  and Humblin” Michigan defeats Gophers 58-0, no scoring no tackling – “defense below rock bottom”.  Monday sports page:  “On the ‘L’ Train”  KC defeats Vickings 22-17 – record 0-4 – “Near record of futility the season is over”. Timberwolves basketball moribund since the departure of Garnett. Rebuilding continues after year’s of futility. Will a newContinue reading “LYNX BRILLIANT COMPARED WITH MINNESOTA “WOBEGONE” BIG TIME MALE SPORTS”

RULES FOR THE SUMMER

These rules were designed and decreed by wife Ruth in summer 1972 when she was employed outside the home. I was the househusband in charge of four daughters;  Catherine 11, Elizabeth 9, Anastasia 8, Stephanie 5.  Two older siblings, Victoria 19 and Fred 17, were beyond a rule framework and had the run of the city. Summer RulesContinue reading “RULES FOR THE SUMMER”

DOWNSIZING’S IMPERATIVE – “TRAVEL LIGHT”

Downsizing our household became imperative prior when moving to our new home,  Becketwood Cooperative.  A major project involved changing approximately twenty-five slide carousels to DVD discs. Recently we spent an evening reviewing the contents of several boxes of memorabilia and “treasures”  we brought along from our separate offices to our Cooperative home. Little survived the scrutiny andContinue reading “DOWNSIZING’S IMPERATIVE – “TRAVEL LIGHT””

TRAILING CLOUDS OF GLORY DO WE COME

September 8, 2011 A secluded and private space at Becketwood Cooperative is Fernwood Glen. Gigantic century old mature oaks shelter a sprawling wild-flower garden  greet the eye. Bench provided offers a place for quiet contemplation. Often I visit here to enjoy the opportunity for private musing and thought. Immediately adjoining is the playground of Minnehaha Academy’s lower grade  school.  Recently atContinue reading “TRAILING CLOUDS OF GLORY DO WE COME”