Author: Patrick

World War II cost the United States over 300 billion dollars. The government funded the war through increased taxes and selling war bonds. Celebrities would peddle the bonds.  Communities would have bond rallies, offering pie and coffee in exchange for the purchase of war bonds.  And of course, the posters. "Doing all you can, Brother?" … Continue reading Obligation

A number of weeks ago, I wrote this post about how NOT to talk about God. Treating a relationship with God like an insurance policy (You better have one, or else.) may scare people into professing some kind of faith, but it will not inspire the kind of faith that will change anyone's life in any … Continue reading Marketing God, part 2

Three weeks ago I wrote this post about how NOT to talk about God, with a promise to post part 2 the next week.  But then something happened.  More than something, my mother died on September 2nd after a very brief illness. We had her service last Friday, which was beautiful. Now we grieve. When … Continue reading Personal Privilege

Marketing God, part 2 will be back next week.

A few years ago this happened. A tree fell on our house, smashing the roof over the garage.  One of those events that was all-consuming on that day, but now we look back and think, eh. Luckily, things went pretty smoothly from there.  We have great coverage, and the insurance company was very responsive.  We … Continue reading Marketing God, part 1

This is the remote for our television in 2015. This was the remote for our television in 1978. The top one is easy.  I can sit in my chair, and with the press of a button watch something different. The bottom one was not.  If I (or anybody else, since I was the youngest) wanted … Continue reading Remotely

I love feel good sports movies, the kind that leave you feeling like you can do anything, and that the world is a good place.  You may think of classic movies like Chariots of Fire, Hoosiers, or Miracle and wonder why I feel the need to confess. I'm confessing because it's not just the classics.  I'm also a sucker for … Continue reading While we’re confessing…

The last house we owned in Chicago had cedar siding.  At one point in its existence it had been pretty.  A nice blue with white trim, set off with black shutters and a cedar shake roof.  Very pretty.  Very homey. But I say that it was pretty at one point in its existence because apparently, … Continue reading I can confess this since I failed.

I had my first Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in 1994.  It was delicious and marked my entry in the world of craft beer. Since then, I've had the opportunity to try a lot of different varieties in many different places.  Interesting names.  Interesting labels.  Interesting stories behind some of the breweries.  Mostly, I'm an IPA … Continue reading Why the craft beer movement makes me want to stop drinking… OK, maybe not.

Two weeks ago on vacation I got some water in my ear. No matter what I did, I could not get it to come out.  Over a couple days, it would feel like the pressure was lightening up, but then the next morning it would feel packed again, and I would spend the rest of … Continue reading Faith, Faith, Faith