Personal expressions of the world around us through text, sight and sound.


Filter Article list:
Article Scope:  

The Author, Category and Topic selectors will reflect the Article Scope setting.

Date range:    
Current: articles posted within the last 30 Days
Recent: articles posted within the last 3 Months
Sort Order:    

Hints on searching Articles

Some articles may be restricted—viewable only to logged-in users with the appropriate Security Level.

You can narrow your search using one or all of six criteria:

  1. Article Scope:
    • This Collection Only (default) limits search results to this article "home page."
    • All includes all articles (including blog entries) on the site.
  2. Date range:
    • Current shows articles posted within the past 30 Days
    • Recent shows articles posted within the past 3 Months
    • All includes all articles within the Collection Scope.
    • NOTE: Based on the number of articles found and other filter settings, the Date Scope may be adjusted automatically. However, in most cases you can still use the form to choose a specific range.
  3. Author--regular contributors are listed by name; "special" is used for ocassional or one-time authors. (They are idenitified by name in the article list using a "byline" field in the database).
  4. Category—each article is assigned to one category ( a master category list is used for Articles, Blog Entries, Resources, and similar features on the site).
  5. Topic—each article can be assigned to multiple topics (also uses a master list). You can narrow the search by one topic at a time.
    Even though we try to keep the number of topics limited and as general as possible, the list of topics is long and constantly growing simply because of the wide scope of content covered by aritcles on the site. A good alternative to using the drop-down list is to click on a topic from the Summary View of the Article List, or the category and topic summary at the top of an Article.
    NOTE: Because topics are added over time, some topics may not be associated with earlier articles to which they could apply. From time to time, we update category and topic links.
  6. Keywords
    Looks for a word, phrase or part of a word in the component parts of the article.

Viewing the Results

In addition to the "Most Recent" and "Top Articles" lists, there are three Views of the searchable Article List: (where you are now):

  1. Quick. Shows Categories in alphabetical order, with a list of articles by post date (most recent first), title, author. This is the default view. Return to it anytime by selecting "Clear Filter" in the Article Filter.
  2. Minimal. Shows a list of Categories in which articles for this collection appear, including the number of articles in each category. Activate this view by clicking on "View Category names only" under the gray view description bar.
  3. Summary. Expands a single Category to include a brief description of each article, the primary category, and any topics assigned to it.

Actions from the Article List

  • Click on an Article title to view it.
    • A link at the bottom of the article will bring you back to this page.
    • If you have expanded the Collection Scope to All, and view an article or blog entry outside this collection, the return link will take you to the corresponding "home" page. To return to this page, use the Back button in your browser or use the Site Menu.
  • Click on a Category name to expand the list into Summary View, which will include more detals about the articles within that Category, including the topics associated with it.
    • If you have selected "All" in the Article Scope, the initial Summary View will reset the Article Scope to "This Collection only." From there, you can go back to "All" if desired.
  • Click on a Topic name (Summary View) to see recent articles associated with that topic. From there you can expand to "All" articles or narrow the search using the Filter.
    • There are some categories that also appear as topics. In this case, the filter will set the topic, since that will return the greatest number of results. From there, you can modify the Search Filter to narrow your search.

Actions from the Article (listing of Categories and Topics at top of Article)

  • Click on the Category or a Topic and you will be taken to the Article List page with the search filter set accordingly. (The notes under Article List also apply here).

Printing the List or individual Articles

Using Print this page at the upper left will print the content displayed in the Articles List or an individual Article, without any of the surrounding page elements. The filter form in the list view is replaced with a summary of the filter settings.

Please note: Using the "Print this page" option is highly recommended over the print options available through the Share utility (described below).

Additional Hint: On some smaller devices you may find it helpful to use the Print option to display a simpler content-only view. Depending on the device, you may not actually be able to print, but it may produce a view that is easier to read. You will need to close the print window to get back to the site navigation.

Sharing and Commenting on Article Lists and Individual Articles

There is a lot of discussion about the merits of commenting within a site. At this time we have decided not to integrate it into the site. The AddThis Share utility that appears at the upper left on the page as well as at the end of articles allows you to share the selected page through Facebook, Twitter, and more than 200 other social media services. Most of these options allow you to add comments.

You can also comment through the site's own social media connections, which are linked through the icons in the site masthead (only active social media accounts are shown).


19 articles found.

SUMMARY VIEW  Expanded details within a Category. Click on article title, Category, or a listed Topic

To change sort order or make another search, modify the form above

Faith, Religion & Spirituality

 3 records found

Thanks to Lutherans I Skipped Ballet by Garrison Keillor


(March 16, 2023)
The question I ask myself is, 'Do people of color really and truly wish to enlist in this army?'' It isn't just a religious faith, it's a culture…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment • Attitudes • Beliefs • Faith • Lifestyle, General • Religion


Thirst-Quenching Heavenly Reign by George Garrison


(January 22, 2021)
A pastor reflects on the contrast between earthly government and the promise of the heavenly reign to come…
Topics: Beliefs • Current Events, News • Faith • God • Government • Hopes & Dreams • Politics • Racism and Inequality • Voting & Elections


Thankful for What Hasn't Changed by George Garrison


(November 26, 2020)
Being thankful in all circumstances…
Topics: Beliefs • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • Faith • Holidays • Holiday Season • Inspiration • Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving



General

 1 record found

Blessed Are the Meek for They Shall Inheirit a Shirt by Garrison Keillor


(June 17, 2022)
I sat down in a café and enjoyed a croissant. The waiter offered to refill my coffee cup. This is the sort of kindness an old dog takes sustenance from…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • Grace • Gratitute • Lifestyle, General • Optimal Aging



Government & Politics

 3 records found

Where Will the Political Violence Lead? Look to the 1850s. by Joshua Zeitz / Politico


(November 5, 2022)
In the mid-19th century, a pro-slavery minority — encouraged by lawmakers — used violence to stifle a growing anti-slavery majority. It wasn’t long before the other side embraced force as a necessary response…
Topics: Beliefs • Government • History • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Values • Voting & Elections


My Thoughts After Being Cut Down by a Tree by Garrison Keillor


(November 3, 2022)
Everyone has disappointments and worries about the future and sometimes a person can imagine the country is about to crack at the seams…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Contemplation, Insight • Current Events, News • News • Politics • Social Issues


The Strain of Polarization by James N. Watkins


(November 14, 2020)
What happens when there is no middle ground…
Topics: Beliefs • Civility • Language, Meaning • Politics • Relationships • Social Issues • Unity, Unified • Voting & Elections



History

 2 records found

An Idea, Probably Wrong, but It is an Idea by Garrison Keillor


(November 10, 2022)
I’m not nostalgic for those days long passed, I simply feel that you young people need to know some history…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Change • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • History • Memories • Social Movements • Values


Libraries and the Death Tax by Arlene Weismantel / The Conversatiion


(September 26, 2020)
What hundreds of American public libraries owe to Andrew Carnegie's disdain for inherited wealth…
Topics: Beliefs • Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) • Books • Charity • Financial • History • Inspiration • Tribute, Testimony



Holidays

 2 records found

Indpendence Day Q&A by James N. Watkins


(July 2, 2020)
A not-so-trivial quiz about July 4 and the Founding Fathers…
Topics: Beliefs • Freedom • God • Government • History • Holidays • July 4 (U.S. Independence Day) • Patriotism • Religion • Spirituality, Seeking God • Values


What Did We Declare? —Exploring the meaning of our founding document by Stu Johnson


(July 4, 2015)
Reading a novel inspires research about the document whose adoption we celebrate on July 4…
Topics: Beliefs • Freedom • God • Government • July 4 (U.S. Independence Day)



Inspiration

 1 record found

Dare to be Ordinary by James N. Watkins


(July 9, 2021)
We've been taught we can have whatever we want, but…
Topics: Advice, Guidance & Mentoring • Attitudes • Beliefs • Courage • Faith • Jesus • Lifestyle, General • Optimal Aging • Trust



Life Events

 2 records found

What if It Does and They Don't? by Garrison Keillor


(September 15, 2022)
Thoughts of rising sea levels, politics, and an ode to the pig whose mitral valve saved my life…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Change • Health Care • Nature • Politics • Science & Technology • Social Issues


What's Your Vantage Point? by Bill Nichols


(May 17, 2020)
Viewing life experiences through the eyes of an artist…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment • Beliefs • Character, Integrity • God • Hopes & Dreams • Metaphors, Life Lessons • Planning



News & Current Events

 5 records found

Here're Your Orders: Make Something Beautiful by Garrison Keillor


(June 30, 2022)
Don’t be disheartened. Deal with the problem.. . . Exercise your gifts. Create beautiful things…
Topics: Beliefs • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Government • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


Bridging the Divide by Stu Johnson


(January 15, 2022)
A reminder as we look back at The Capitol Insurrection and approach Martin Luther King Jr Day that the divisions we face are not new and that there are ways to bridge the divide…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Civility • History • Media • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Issues • Technology • Trust • Values • Voting & Elections


Conspiracy Theories and Human Psychology by Russell Johnson


(September 18, 2021)
While conspiracy theories may not actually be increasing, awareness of them is, and it is important to understand the role they play in American culture…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Media • Mental Health • Popular Culture • Psychology, Psychological Health • Social Issues • Social Movements


Is It a 'Life' or a 'Choice'? by James N. Watkins


(September 3, 2021)
Texas law turns up the heat on a debate that will not die down…
Topics: Advocacy • Beliefs • Choices and Decision Making • Government • History • News • Social Issues • Social Movements • Values


Earth and Heaven by James N. Watkins


(October 2, 2020)
What it means to me to be a citizen of both…
Topics: Beliefs • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Faith • Government • Language, Meaning • News • Religion • Social Issues • Social Movements