The ancient Greeks referred to the dramatic moment in some of their plays as “deus ex machina,” the god from the machine. The term, introduced by the Greek tragedian Aeschylus, has, according to definition, “evolved to mean a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the inspired and unexpected […]
Cal Thomas
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Wolff latest to try demeaning Trump
“Everybody’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.” — W.C. Fields Having lost an election they thought they would win and unable to get over it; having been staggeringly wrong about their predictions that a Trump presidency would be the end of global economies; now putting faith in a special counsel […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Character counts, but so do results
I do not make it a practice to comment on the work of fellow columnists, though occasionally some care to comment on mine, which is fine. I am happy to help them make a living. An exception will be made here because of New York Times “conservative” columnist, Bret Stephens. In an end-of-year column titled […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
A response to Cal Thomas
In a recent column (Dec. 28) Cal Thomas, a staunch evangelical, expressed his conviction that what Britain and America need now is a Christian revival similar to those that took place in Wales in 1904 and in America more than 60 years ago under the leadership of Billy Graham. Why the need? Because secularism has […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
For 2018 — more hugs and a little tenderness
DUBLIN, Ireland — “Try a Little Tenderness” is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods. According to Wikipedia, it was first recorded on Dec. 8, 1932, by the Ray Noble Orchestra (with vocals by Val Rosing). Probably these names are as unfamiliar to us today as the demonstration of tenderness […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
The ultimate gift is finding Jesus’ love
Unless you are spending this time of year at a spiritual retreat cut off from TV, newspapers or internet service you cannot escape the blaring music and the marketers attempting to sell you something they promise will bring you happiness and peace. The many definitions of peace seem inadequate at this or any other time […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Put brakes on government spending
So, a Republican majority Congress has “reformed” the tax code for the first time in 31 years, allowing us to keep a little more of the money we earn. Woohoo! Back in the day when my withholding exceeded my tax liability, I occasionally received a nice little refund check from the U.S. Treasury. The check […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Trump's accomplishments obscured by distractions
Side issues — some of them created by the president himself — have obscured the accomplishments of the Donald Trump administration during his first year in office. The economy is the most obvious one. From anemic growth in the previous administration, it is now growing at around 3 percent, which economists say is ideal. The […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Politicians, public faced with a choice
In September 1862, a group of Chicago ministers sent a “memorial” (or long letter) to President Abraham Lincoln in which they made a theological argument for the elimination of slavery. Lincoln had also heard from Southern clergy who used the same scriptures to justify slavery’s preservation. In response, Lincoln wrote the Chicago group with words […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Kushner doesn't understand the depth of anti-Israel feelings
President Trump’s son-in-law and designated Middle East peace envoy, Jared Kushner, told the Brookings Institution’s Saban Forum recently that a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is key to solving larger goals, such as stopping Iranian aggression and Islamic extremism. If he believes that, he has fallen into the trap numerous and more seasoned […]