Chip Shots

How she was caught is never revealed. But now that their illicit relationship served to advance the agenda of the religious elite, they were stalked and she was caught. Her accomplice? Mysteriously absent. Snatched from the arms of her lover, she stands terrified before a leering crowd. Her accusers grab stones. Tension drips like a muggy Houston afternoon. How will the carpenter-turned-rabbi respond to this woman? Will he show compassion and break the religious law? Or will he enforce it and let the her die? At first he ignores them. When they persist he says, “Let the one who is without sin throw the first stone.” He returns to scratching the dirt with a stick. The crowd holds its breath. One by one the religionists drop their weapons and walk away. When he looks up again, he and the woman are alone. “Where are your accusers?” he asks. “Does no one condemn you?” “No one, sir,” she answers. “I don’t condemn you either. Go, and leave your life of sin.” .... Religion says, “Change your ...

I’d like to introduce you to a fascinating group of people, people with whom you may already be familiar. I wonder: can you guess their identity? As a whole, this group of people takes spiritual life very seriously. They are widely known for their attention to the details of their religion. They are scrupulous about attendance at religious events. They give generously. They fast regularly. They pray faithfully. These people also care very deeply about living a good life. They are models of personal purity. They are extremely careful to live above reproach, and would be considered among the most respected persons in the community. They’re honest, hardworking, and conscientious. Any employer would be delighted to have them working in their company. Yes, they are well known for the integrity of their lives and the sincerity of their religion. In addition, they have an extremely high regard for their holy scriptures. They study them, memorize them, and diligently seek to apply ...

Okay, okay, I’ll admit it: I was eavesdropping. I couldn’t help it, really. The woman across the way was so excited she was hard to ignore. I’d been sitting in the coffee shop for quite some time; it’s one of my favorite places to hang out. I love the environment, the java, the spicy mango salad, and the friendliness of the staff. Everything is first rate. They even have free wireless internet (unlike the big guys, who make you pay to use their air space). Settled into one of their well-worn weather chairs, computer propped on the left, bagel and coffee on the right, knees in my lap, I’m ready for some serious sur — I mean working! Anyway, I was minding my own business the other day when I overheard pieces of a conversation. “You won’t believe the miracles I’ve seen; I could write a book about it!” she said. I perked up, wondering where this was leading. “I go up near Pinnacle Peak — it’s got just as much energy as Sedona — and I offer up my intentions. Whatever’s up there, God, or wha...

In his classic children’s book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , CS Lewis imagines a world where "it's always winter and never Christmas." As Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan discover, this is because the land of Narnia is under the control of the Wicked Witch, who rules it with an iron fist. Knowing that the children, who arrived in Narnia through the wardrobe of an eccentric old Professor, are Narnia’s rightful heirs, the Wicked Witch tricks one of the them, Edmund, into betraying the others. She seduces him with his appetite for food by offering him Turkish Delight, a treat which makes him sick to his stomach while still craving more. In addition, she traps him with the elixir of power and recognition, promising him that she will make him king all by himself. As a result, when the majestic Lion called Aslan, Narnia’s true King, returns to depose the Witch, he discovers that Edmund has forfeited his freedom by having betrayed his family. To set Edmund free, Aslan agr...

I stood helplessly beside my son’s hospital crib. He had just endured a life-threatening operation to remove half of his defective right lung. His breathing was labored. The night nurse, concern etched on her face, would not leave his side. Neither would I. I seriously wondered if he’d ever grow up. It’s not a pleasant memory. That night, I was faced with a choice: would I succumb to fear and anger, or surrender it to God? Thus far, God hadn’t seemed very trustworthy. I never felt so angry and helpless in my whole life. I wanted to grab my son, unhook the tubes, and rescue him from that place. Instead, I retreated to a quiet room and gritted out this lyric: “ My child belongs to you, Lord, for you alone know best. His future is secure, Lord; my heart can lie at rest. I don’t know what tomorrow will hold in store for us. But you alone are faithful; in you alone I trust.” Our son’s 19th birthday is today, April 13. He’s perfectly healthy -- a college athlete. We're grateful for his r...

I saw the movie Mr. Holland's Opus when it first came out and, frankly, didn't think too much of it. For one thing, while Richard Dreyfuss is a terrific actor, he's not much of a conductor. It reminded me of Elaine's dance on Seinfeld. I kept thinking, "Couldn't they cast someone who looked like a real band director?" The problem's much more noticeable when it comes to casting actors as athletes. Did any of us really see John Goodman as Babe Ruth in the movie about his life, or did he just seem like Roseanne's right-handed husband playing the left-handed Babe Ruth? Maybe that's why Kevin Costner makes so many sports movies. He, at least, is an athlete. Too bad he can't act. I know my bias is showing, but it seems like finding an actor with musical skills should have been a piece of cake. The other thing that bothered me about Mr. Holland's Opus was its overdrawn sentimentality. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where ...