Blog

For Wilshire Baptist Church

We had the privilege and pleasure to drive out of the city and into the heartland this past weekend to attend our nephew’s graduation from Cimarron High School in northeast New Mexico. The village has a population of approximately 1,000 – some of that is year-round staff at Philmont Scout Ranch nearby – so the school is small and the graduating class numbered just 21.

This is the fifth time I’ve attended the high school commencement for one of my brother’s kids, and the ceremonies are always memorable and more than that, they’re enlightening and encouraging. 

Continue reading “Report From Flyover Country”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

“If I feel like my song is sung, I don’t care if it’s short.” That’s an intriguing philosophy in one sentence — for music, for just about anything, even an entire life.

I heard those words at the end of a recording of “You Are My Sunshine” sung by Johnny Cash. I’d been hearing a snippet of it on several TV commercials for Whirlpool appliances with the theme of “Every Day, Care.” I liked the sound of it and found the full recording in which Cash sings two verses and two choruses, his rough bass-baritone starkly accompanied by acoustic guitar. When the music ends, you hear others in the studio talking about the length of the song. Someone suggests there’s another verse they could add, and that’s when Cash says it: “If I feel like my song is sung, I don’t care if it’s short.” 

Continue reading “Every Day, Sing Your Song”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

I woke up this morning with two writing deadlines. Most days I’m juggling two or more projects, so this isn’t unusual. And actually, I like it that way because when I get stuck on one project, I move to the other and that usually gets me fixed. And often I’m moving between fiction and some sort of journalism, so the jump from unfettered creativity to very focused communication is good for my head. But today, somewhat to my surprise, my two assignments have converged; I’m writing this weekly blog, and I’m writing an annual property tax protest.

Continue reading “Rendering Unto Others”