By Tim Winterstein –
From February 2–9, the Spokane International Film Festival celebrated its twentieth year, holding screenings of documentary and narrative features, as well as shorts blocks from around the world, including a Best of the Northwest program featuring local filmmakers. The festival opened with Benny and Joon, a 1993 film that was set and made in Spokane, which—I’m somewhat ashamed to admit—I had never seen.
By Graham Glover –
Worthless.
Broken.
Corrupt.
These are just a few of the words I’ve heard over the last few days to describe the city where I live. Not that it’s entirely different at other times, but people don’t feel too great about the recent shenanigans going on in Washington, D.C.
By Graham Glover –
Wait, what? A reformation with non-Christians? Wasn’t the whole point of the Reformation to reform the Christian faith? How can we talk about a reformation with faiths that deny the most important belief of Christianity, namely, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?
By Joel A. Hess –
Initially, I completely disagreed with those taking a knee during the national anthem. I certainly thought it was disrespectful to the men and women who gave their life for us to pay athletes millions of dollars. But then I asked myself if there would be a time when I would take a knee.
By Graham Glover –
At some point next month, Congress will begin putting together a budget (or at least a continuing resolution. They don’t seem keen on passing actual budgets these days). As that conversation gets started, there will likely be a lively debate on taxes. Specifically, how much the Federal Government should tax individual and business incomes, profits, etc. I look forward to that debate and hope there is some meaningful dialogue on whether tax rates should be adjusted, and if so, how and why.
By Graham Glover –
That’s right, with authors currently in Florida, California, Michigan, Washington, Illinois, and Arkansas, and readers located around the world, the Jagged Word will soon be represented in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.!
By Graham Glover –
I live in a strange world. It’s a world that on the surface makes little sense. A world that without context seems theologically problematic.
In my world, I do the things of the church without a church.
By Graham Glover –
Universal healthcare. The mere mention of the idea is enough to bring a smile to a liberal and a scowl to a conservative.
Outside of the immigration debate, I don’t think there is an issue that divides the electorate more than whether the United States federal government should provide healthcare to all its citizens. Obama won two elections because of his promise to provide universal healthcare. One could argue that Trump won an election because of his promise to repeal it.
By Graham Glover –
Are we on the brink of war?
Chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Cruise missiles fired in response. North Korea flexing its muscles. Carriers and submarines in route to the Pacific. China. Russia. Iran. And let’s not forget ISIS, Afghanistan, Iraq, and about a dozen or so other volatile regions of the world.
By Graham Glover –
The United States of America has become our idol. It has become our god. Our worship of it, or at least what we think it should be, consumes us. I dare say it defines us. We talk about what it means to be a good American all the time. Our devotion to living out what we perceive to be the “American Dream” is the benchmark of our success – its fulfillment is what we strive to every day.
We may claim to put God first. We talk often about the importance of family and friends. But nothing beats the U.S. of A. It is our priority. In everything.
