Some people make a big deal out of things they don’t understand. For instance, when the Bible says the husband is the “head” of the wife, they jump up and down insisting it means husbands are the boss.

Well, no. Read more »

If a discussion of the roles of husband and wife comes up, the uneducated Christian heads directly for Ephesians 5–and proceeds to misinterpret the tar out of it. Read more »

Today is announcement day!

With many requests to publish a book of my original Quick Takes On Life quotes, I came up with a smaller, I think more usable format–a portfolio.

The new You CAN Get There From Here portfolio includes selected quotes–all formatted and lovely–to use as screen savers, print as small motivational posters, etc.

To check them out–and see a sample– click here. (Or paste http://QuickTakesOnLife.com into your web browser and give it a click.)

At these prices, you can’t afford not to get a little hope and motivation!

My three-year-old niece, Rachel, came to live with us the on the same day we moved from New York to our just-built home in Connecticut. Nobody really planned it that way; it just happened. Read more »

Bette Dowdell

(An excerpt from On We March: A memoir of growing up in The Salvation Army)

Somebody came up with the idea that Cousin Butch, he of the black curly mop of hair, and I, called “Bright Eyes” by Grandpa, should be a cover picture for “The Young Soldier,” the Salvation Army’s national Sunday School paper, a signal honor indeed. “Talk about adorable!” swooned the adults. Read more »

Some years ago, new residents in town, we ventured into church one Sunday. There were five of us: a set of parents, sufficiently presentable to fit in well in just about any club, and three cute-as-a-button children: fourth-grade Chrissie, second-grade Chuckie, and Rachel, my three-year-old niece who had just come to live with us. Just your normal All-American family goes to church scenario. Read more »

(Excerpted from Bette Dowdell’s book, On We March: A memoir of growing up in The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army included Social Service Centers, or Socials, residential rehabilitation centers for alcoholics. (Socials, now called Adult Rehabilitation Centers, or ARCs, are the part of the Army that picks up donations and sells them in their thrift stores.) Residents typically came to the Social from long years of addiction. If they stayed sober long enough to come and request help, they could join the program, which included a place to stay, regular meals, clothing, medical care, Christian AA meetings, counseling and a job. Their work gave them an income and also kept the Social going. Read more »

What’s up with the lamebrains who speak in the potty-mouth dialect without giving even a hint of a thought about how others will receive their message?

Step this through with me: Read more »

You want dumb as a brick? You want too dense to get out of their own way? Get yourself some sheep. Read more »

Cervantes said, “Faint heart ne’er won fair lady.” As a matter of fact, a faint heart never won much of anything. But put a little determination and will into that heart, and it can shoot the moon. Read more »

We’ve all heard the old saying that goes, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Now there’s a thought. We surely have to do something with the lemons as they come along.

Sucking on lemons takes the enamel right off your teeth, so we don’t want to do that. Letting them stack up is even worse Read more »

It’s a much mourned fact of life that watching exercise videos doesn’t build muscles. Couch potatoes who can legitimately boast about six-pack abs don’t exist.

Reading bodybuilding books Read more »

Nowadays, some people lack interest in the whole “love your neighbor” concept. None of that wussie stuff for them, thank you very much.

Let weaklings do the love stuff. These people want their own way. They want control. Read more »

Life comes one to a customer. We’re all in the middle of a one-time event. We get one shot to do it right. When it’s over, it’s over. No rehearsals, no retakes. Read more »

Most discussions opposing the role of Christianity in the United States arise from an abyss of ignorance so deep as to be unfathomable. You can endlessly drop boulders into this chasm of intellectual darkness without ever hearing one hit bottom. Read more »