Published in I’m Stumped·Jul 1Press Pause on the ArgumentIt is unlikely that you or I will change any laws through our social media posts. We might….might….change someone’s mind, but even that is probably a long shot. So, as I watch my social media feeds heat up with important debates about laws and rights and lives, I can understand…4 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Feb 2Love or Country?Something I began to ponder as I watched a show about England before it was England. The show is about love and Britain. For me, it helped illustrate the contrast between something fleeting and something eternal. What we now call England was essentially governed by the Roman empire for almost…Love3 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Nov 8, 2021It is all you needMy friend Stephanie who is a brilliant songwriter and musician was recently asked to write a song about the “essence of humanity” for a time capsule project. A tall order indeed so she posed the question to her Facebook friends. My first thought was that “essence of humanity” sounds like…4 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Nov 5, 2021Science and FaithThe long-standing tension between religion and science is an unnecessary battle born of misunderstanding not truth. And like any war, there have been casualties on both sides. Religious people have made themselves exponentially more vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation because they are taught to mistrust good sources of information and…1 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Oct 27, 2021Reclining Airplane Seats are Killing AmericaAs you likely know, airplane seats are rather compact to put it kindly. The amount of physical contortion required to do something so simple as taking your phone out of your pocket while sitting on an airplane requires a set of qualities mostly reserved for world class gymnasts and acrobats…3 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Oct 26, 2021Portland Trailblazers 2021–22 Mega-PreviewI don’t usually post sports stuff here, but just in case any of you don’t follow me on Facebook and care about the Blazers, I thought I would offer this bit of light reading. After losing all four preseason games by an average of more than 25 points and losing…NBA23 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Sep 1, 2021Pain SherpaI have spent most of my career becoming a better problem solver. For me, that means mostly legal and business related problems. After 20 plus years, at times I’m pretty dang good at it. Clients come to me usually in a crisis or with a problem about to become a…4 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Jul 12, 2021No One Is One ThingI may have posted this before, but it was recently called to my attention after I posted it on Facebook a couple years back. I couldn’t find it on here so I thought I would post it here too. I have long admired Thomas Jefferson. I have read his writings…5 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Jun 21, 2021God of the WildnernessIn May, 1986, a group of highschool students and staff from Oregon Episcopal School were participating in a wilderness program on Mt. Hood. They were well above the timberline on snow and ice when the weather turned suddenly. Temperatures dropped in an instant. The wind ripped over the exposed face…13 min read
Published in I’m Stumped·Jun 19, 2021A Better Way?I am beginning to believe that the most destructive role a religious person or individual can play is that of gatekeeper. Perhaps determining who is “in” or “out” or “wrong” or “right” in the context of something divine should be the exclusive purview of the divine itself. And if you…1 min read