Today is July 4th, the day that normally expresses our unity and freedom, but this year’s lead up has not been all that encouraging. Some are questioning both of those attributes.

I think by now all of us have come to the realization that minds are not going to be changed. Period. No matter which side we are on––wear a mask––don’t wear a mask––police need to be defunded––police need to be supported––we have come to the conclusion that all of our pushing or pulling has only produced inertia, and all of our brilliant arguments are falling on deaf ears. We are each listening to the voices we want to hear.

In light of this reality, I would like to make a suggestion that could help us over this proverbial hump. (July 2nd, by the way, is the “hump day” of the year. Not bad timing.) It comes right out of that perpetual Amish calendar I love.

“It is better to give others a piece of your heart than a piece of your mind.”

“Have I got an opportunity for you.”

As a teacher, you never wanted an administrator to open a conversation with those words because they were merely a euphemism for “I have more work I want you to do.” On most occasions, that was true, but on a few occasions, it also was an opportunity to move forward.

I say this because . . . have I got an opportunity for you.

Let me preface this with a bit of backstory.

I went to college to become a screenwriter. Four years later, however, I graduated having no clue what I wanted to do. Eventually, I landed in teaching . . . and never looked back. I loved it. (For a more detailed account please read my very first blog — 2/16/2015.)

But I also still loved writing, so when an “opportunity” presented itself, I took it.

Sometime in 1991 (I have no recollection now how) I came across a request from Standard Publishing for submissions to their weekly supplemental magazine for junior high and high school students. Each quarter a list of the weekly themes would be sent out via email. Writers could write to one or to all thirteen prompts. My submissions varied depending on time and inspiration. Acceptances varied as well, but I think I sold at least one each quarter.

It was great. It kept me writing. It forced me to hone my skills, and it encouraged me to try larger works.

Since I was working and coaching at the time, my free writing time was pretty limited, so besides working on the short stories, I started writing my novels . . . two pages a day. Some days those pages flew by and on others . . . well . . . I would sit and stare at the computer for a long time.

So why this backstory? Because I know some of you love to write. And some of you may not realize you love to write. That’s why when I came across the Christian Writers Submission Information website, I was excited . . . for both of us. Whether you like to write just for personal pleasure or you have higher aspirations, this website can give you that jump-start.   

It offers a list of publishers accepting open submissions and contests for all genres of writing.

So . . . If you love writing, or you just want to see if you love writing, take a look . . . and then take a chance. Happy writing!

It has been a rough few months and an even rougher past couple of weeks, hasn’t it? It’s about time for a bit of good news.

Like many, I took a break last Saturday from the now numbing news of corona virus and the acute pain of the death of George Floyd and its aftermath to watch the launch of the Space X Dragon carrying two American astronauts to the International Space Station. The first space launch from American soil in close to a decade.



It took me back years as I felt the same excitement and nervousness I had when I watched the Mercury (I think), the Gemini, the Apollo, and the Space Shuttle launches. I followed the NASA duo while they jettisoned the first two stages and were safely into orbit. I would have kept watching, but it was a nineteen hour ride, so I opted to tune back in the next morning and watch the docking.

Ironically, that same day (Saturday), my sister-in-law sent the family a link to a YouTube video based on the book The Privileged Planet:The Search for Purpose in the Universe by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards. I procrastinated opening it because I thought I knew what it was going to say . . . and I did . . . to a point.

In contrast to Carl Sagan’s assertion that Earth is merely an insignificant blue dot in a vast universe, Gonzalez and Richards claim that Earth is unique and rare. It exists in the only habitable zone in our solar system and has the twenty necessary factors needed for life, in the exact configuration needed, and all occurring simultaneously. Any variance at all, however slight, would be catastrophic. The probability of that occurring is infinitesimal.

I knew that. I had heard that before. I hadn’t, however, heard the next part.

That our position in the universe was also unique. That Earth is positioned in the only habitable zone in our galaxy. Not only that, it is perfectly positioned between two spiral gaseous arms to allow us to see the universe clearly, and it is located central in the galaxy to avoid the hazards of the dangerous middle and outer edges.

Because of its location, Earth is the one place that allows for scientific discovery at all levels––from geology to intergalactic exploration. The final irony? This vast universe is understandable to humans. Therefore, it begs discovery. And humans are driven to explore.

Neither Gonzales nor Richards believe this is by chance. Humans do not need to know this information in order to survive. These discoveries are beyond that. So why? What’s the purpose of it? Were we just lucky, or were we placed here by design?

I strongly encourage you to watch the hour-long documentary. It has so much more to say, and is fascinating. The additional thirty minutes are excerpts from the interviews with scientists that were not included in the documentary. That information is fascinating as well.

But let me leave you with a few verses that point to the reason we are where we are.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

As the documentary asserts –– because we are where we are, we can glimpse the mind of God.