Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
Mount Rushmore was carved into a cliff face between 1927 and 1941 and it portrays four popular United States presidents that are seen to reflect important aspects of the nation’s development. If you had to choose four Christian thinkers that you would include on your Christian Mount Rushmore, who would you choose? I am thinking … Read More “Who is On Your Christian Mount Rushmore?” »
When readers think about the earliest characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman naturally comes to mind. But before Superman became the character who transformed the comic-book industry, Siegel and Shuster had already created another remarkable hero. His name was Dr. Occult. A detective of the supernatural, Dr. Occult investigated ghosts, demons, magical … Read More “Dr. Occult: DC Comics’ Forgotten First Supernatural Hero” »
I skipped seeing the Mandalorian and Grogu movie in the theatre, waiting instead to watch it for free on Disney Plus. An all too common practice these days. And this, despite being a huge Star Wars fan. Having said that, I was looking forward to watching it and I am glad I did. Disney has … Read More “Mandalorian and Grogu” »
Yesterday, I preached at First Baptist Church, Meaford. This was a church where I had my longest time as a pastor, approximately nine years, it it contains many memories. I brought my daughter Emma with me, who had just finished junior kindergarten when we left and is now a year out of high school. It … Read More “Another Trip Down Memory Lane” »
Is this a good time or a bad time for the Christian church? Is Christianity thriving or is it struggling? There are those who see the church as being threatened from the outside. I see the threat as being from the inside. In my late twenties, it was recognized that there were dangers to the … Read More “4 Things That Scare Me About the Church Today” »
One of the best websites that I can point people to when it comes to autism (and neurodiversity) and the church is the Centre for Autism and Theology out of Aberdeen University. They are doing such great work. I am excited to be working with them in one small way. They have created a Neurodiversity … Read More “The Neurodiversity and Faith Series” »
Few groups in the DC Universe have had as much influence on galactic history as the Guardians of the Universe. Small, blue-skinned and apparently ancient, the Guardians are the founders and leaders of the Green Lantern Corps. From their headquarters on the planet Oa, they monitor events across the cosmos and attempt to maintain order … Read More “The Guardians of the Universe: DC Comics’ Mysterious Cosmic Overseers” »
Picture an awkward teenager in grade nine during the early 1980s. I was trying to discover my identity and part of that was trying to figure out my musical tastes. I had encountered Rush but I wanted more. I remember sitting in home room and noticing a friend’s Iron Maiden shirt. It looked kind of … Read More “Back to My Heavy Metal Roots” »
C.S. Lewis is best known as a novelist, Christian apologist and literary scholar. His books have influenced theologians, philosophers and countless ordinary readers. But Lewis has also had a surprisingly significant influence on popular music. Rock musicians in particular have repeatedly drawn on his work. Some bands have taken their names from Lewis’s books or … Read More “C.S. Lewis and Rock Music: Bands and Songs Inspired by the Great Christian Writer” »
I am embarrassed to say that there are some Christians who are claiming (with confidence!) that the recently departed Dolly Parton is in hell. There are a lot of snarky things I would like to say about this but I am going to try and address this more reasonably. Here is one of the more … Read More “Why Do Some People Think Dolly Parton is in Hell?” »
The Green Lantern mythos is one of the most expansive corners of the DC Universe. At its heart is the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force that uses power rings fueled by willpower. Over the decades, the Corps has faced threats ranging from alien conquerors to cosmic entities. Yet some of its most important … Read More “Sinestro and the Manhunters: Two of the Green Lantern Corps’ Greatest Enemies” »
I am fortunate to have a job that takes serious self-care and self-development. As a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces, we are expect to take an annual time of spiritual development, often called a retreat. Despite being a chaplain for some time, I have only went on a spiritual retreat once before. We can … Read More “Spiritual Development Retreat” »
The Second World War is often remembered as a conflict between great powers and enormous alliances. The United States became the world’s industrial giant and eventually fielded the largest military force in the Western Allies. Canada, with a much smaller population, nevertheless made an extraordinary contribution on land, at sea, and in the air. What … Read More “Brothers in Arms: American and Canadian Cooperation During the Second World War” »
There is currently a controversy regarding Christian philosopher William Lane Craig concerning his view of Jesus as the Son of God. Craig is not denying the deity of Jesus or the sonship of Jesus. It is much more nuanced than that. In the following clip, Craig denies the eternal begetting of the Son. Notice the … Read More “What is the Eternal Generation of the Son?” »
Few superhero identities have been shared by as many dramatically different characters as Green Lantern. While Superman is primarily associated with Clark Kent and Batman with Bruce Wayne, the title of Green Lantern has been carried by numerous heroes. The most famous modern Green Lanterns are Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Guy Gardner. All three … Read More “Three Green Lanterns: Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Guy Gardner” »
A number of years ago, there was a movie called Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds that was set to start a new shared DC universe. It was bright and green and it flopped, and that shared universe was scrapped. We now have new shared universe under the guidance of James Gunn. One of the first … Read More “First Thoughts on Lanterns” »
I just finished three weeks of summer leave. This was my first summer as a full-time military chaplain and so the process is taking some getting used to. We did not have any major trips but it was a good few weeks. We got to spend some time with Logan and Abby. I also got … Read More “A Good Three Weeks” »
You will likely have seen some pretty inflammatory headlines about Canada’s healthcare system and the policy of euthanizing people against their will. Is this true? Or more accurately, how much of this is true? What seems to be true is that a woman named Brigette Stegemann received Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), despite making statements … Read More “Is Canada Euthanizing People Against Their Will?” »
The Second World War was, among other things, a war fought from the air. Bombers attacked factories, railways, ports, airfields, ships, troop concentrations, bridges, cities, and oil refineries. They supported armies in the field and attempted to destroy the industrial capacity that allowed the enemy to continue fighting. The Allies eventually deployed an extraordinary variety … Read More “Allied Bombers of the Second World War: Aircraft, Strategy, and the Evolution of Strategic Bombing” »
When people discuss the most important characters introduced in Action Comics #1, Superman naturally dominates the conversation. That is understandable. Superman transformed popular culture and effectively launched the superhero genre. But Superman was not the only important character introduced in that historic issue. Action Comics #1, cover dated June 1938, also introduced Zatara the Magician, … Read More “Zatara: The Forgotten Magician Who Helped Build the DC Universe” »
Family means everything to me. Living a couple of hours away from much our family can make things challenging. But we were able to get a lot of family time in this weekend. On Friday, our son Logan came to visit us in Wasaga Beach. This was his first time visiting us at our home … Read More “A Family Weekend” »
For many Christians, it is plain sense that a human is body, spirit, and soul. In fact, this is sometimes used as an imperfect analogy for the Trinity. At the very least, most Christians believe that we have a physical aspect and a non-material spiritual aspect. This substance dualism is common even beyond Christianity. Substance … Read More “What is Christian Physicalism?” »
If you do a search for Assisted Communication of Facilitated Communication, you will find mainly negative comments. I did a Google search and the first article after the Wikipedia article was one which offered evidence that this was not actually autistic people communicating. If you are not familiar with Assisted or Facilitated Communication, it is … Read More “Assisted Communication: Another Perspective” »
Those who know me will know that I have a soft spot for both post-apocalyptic stories and Korean fiction. Thankfully, the Koreans are very good at making post-apocalyptic fiction. One that I recently discovered is called Sweet Home. And no, it does not take place in Alabama. The basic premise of the series is somewhat … Read More “Sweet Home – Review” »
One of the most well known stories in human history is Homer’s Odyssey. Even people who have not read the full story at least know parts of the story and some of the characters. It has helped shape western culture. (Amazon affiliate link) But that also makes it a challenge to make a cinematic adaptation … Read More “The Odyssey – Review” »
Even a couple of years ago, I would have told people I had no desire to move back to Ontario from Nova Scotia. And yet there was a part of me that was open to it that had nothing to do with my appreciation of either province. Our two oldest children live in group homes … Read More “And This is One of the Reasons Why We Moved Back to Ontario” »
One of my favourite Christian thinkers is C.S. Lewis. And I am not alone. Many evangelical Christians absolutely love Lewis. It is interesting to note that I never heard of C.S. Lewis growing up as an Anglican, despite Lewis being a dedicate Anglican. It is among evangelicals that Lewis finds a home. But why? In … Read More “How Evangelical Was C.S. Lewis?” »
In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Darrell Hillier, author of North Atlantic Crossroads, a story of the Second World War that many people have never heard of. Visit Darrell at https://crossroadsoftheworld.ca/ You can purchase his book from this Amazon affiliate link: https://link.amazon/B0d3L3Wmx Support this podcast through http://www.patreon.com/hopesreason Visit me at https://www.stephenjbedard.com/secondwordwar
Since moving to Wasaga Beach, one of the things that we have been looking forward to doing was visiting Meaford. We moved to Meaford about twenty-four years ago and fell in love with the community. We went there because I was hired as the pastor for Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church. This was … Read More “A Trip Down Memory Lane” »
Few villains in the history of comic books have been as consistently important, memorable, or powerful as Doctor Doom. He began as a new villain for the Fantastic Four in the early 1960s. Since then, he has fought almost every major hero in the Marvel Universe, ruled a fictional European nation, mastered both science and … Read More “The History of Doctor Doom: From Fantastic Four Villain to Marvel’s Greatest Super-Villain” »
When tanks first appeared on the battlefields of the First World War, they created a fundamental problem for military planners. How could one stop an armored vehicle that was protected against machine-gun fire and small arms? The answer initially seemed straightforward: build larger and more powerful anti-tank guns. But as tanks became faster, more heavily … Read More “The Rise of the Tank Destroyer in the Second World War” »
One of the goals that I have in terms of theology is to read outside of my tradition. I do not want to just have previous opinions strengthened. Plus, I don’t always agree with my own tradition. It is in this spirit that I read Passion, Power, and Promise by Robert C. Fennell. Links in … Read More “Passion, Power, and Promise: Introducing the Holy Spirit – Review” »
In the summer of 1962, a strange new superhero appeared in a comic book that was about to be cancelled. He was a teenager. He was socially awkward. He was not especially popular. He had family responsibilities. He worried about money. He made jokes while fighting criminals. He was also a superhero who could climb … Read More “The Early Years of Spider-Man: How Marvel Created a New Kind of Superhero” »
I’m always excited to find a new resource in the area of neurodiversity and faith. Today, I came across The NumiNous Institute for Faith and Neurodiversity. This is what it says on their website: The NumiNous Institute for Faith & Neurodiversity exists to promote the broadening of theology and religious institutions to incorporate the unique … Read More “The NumiNous Institute for Faith and Neurodiversity” »
I regularly disappoint most Francophones that I encounter. They see my last name (Bedard) and assume that I can speak French. I quickly correct their mistake. That is not to say that I do not want to learn French. Despite not having even high school French, it has long been on my radar to learn … Read More “Trying to Learn French” »
The short answer is yes. The real answer is yes but with some nuance. First, we absolutely can and should listen to what our pastor says and to think about whether we agree or disagree and why. I can say as someone who has pastored for more than twenty-five years, I never claimed to be … Read More “Is It Okay to Question What Your Pastor Says?” »
Before Batman stalked Gotham’s rooftops and long before Green Arrow fought crime with trick arrows, another mysterious vigilante prowled the night armed with a fedora, a gas gun, and a fierce determination to fight injustice. The Crimson Avenger may not be one of DC Comics’ best-known heroes today, but he occupies an important place in … Read More “The Crimson Avenger: DC’s Forgotten Pioneer of the Superhero Age” »
Among the most dramatic innovations of the Second World War was the use of airborne forces. Soldiers descending from the sky beneath colorful parachutes or arriving in silent gliders captured the imagination of the public and struck fear into the enemy. Airborne troops were considered elite soldiers, capable of seizing key objectives deep behind enemy … Read More “Airborne Warfare in the Second World War: The Rise, Successes, and Failures of the Paratroopers” »
One of the things that has excited me about moving back to Ontario is access to more concerts. Many bands, if they come to Canada at all, only come to Toronto. The first concert we have seen is Shinedown. Before getting into my thoughts on Shinedown, I will comment on the opening acts. I have … Read More “Shinedown in Concert” »
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Introduction We have never been great at gardening. We have had a few small attempts at growing vegetables with mixed success. It has never been quite what we had hoped it would be. But I would like to tell you about the time that we had the greatest harvest of any place … Read More “Sow What?” »
I listen to a lot of podcasts on a wide variety of topics. I would like to share those with you broken down into rough categories. Politics Disabilities Military History Theology, Bible, and Spirituality Online Business And please do not forget that I host a number of podcasts. Make sure to check them out.
It has been said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This tends to be used as a weapon against Christians. The existence of God or the bodily resurrection of Jesus are extraordinary claims, skeptics demand more evidence than we provide. I agree to a certain extent that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. In general, I … Read More “How Should Christians Evaluate Extraordinary Claims?” »
Are churches today accessible? Many would say yes. It is common to have lifts, ramps, and accessible bathrooms. But is that all that is needed? This is what you need to know: Accessibility is more than just getting people with mobility issues physically into the building. Here are five ways that many churches (but not … Read More “5 Ways Many Churches Are Not Accessible” »
When I tell people that we now live in Wasaga Beach, I get a certain reaction. People seem to picture us as living right on the beach as if we walk out of our house into the water. That is not quite right. It is true the Wasaga Beach is the largest fresh water beach … Read More “Enjoying the Beach” »
When people think of the American Revolution, they often picture the Continental Army under George Washington fighting British regulars in set-piece battles such as Saratoga and Yorktown. Yet much of the war, particularly along the New York frontier and in the Great Lakes region, was fought as a brutal guerrilla conflict between neighbors, settlers, Loyalists, … Read More “Butler’s Rangers: The Loyalist Raiders of the American Revolution” »
I cannot remember a time when conspiracy theories have been more popular. There are articles about events that I at first think are satirical that I later find reflect real belief. There are far more flat-earthers now than at anytime in recent history. They can be found all over the globe (see what I did … Read More “How Should Christians Respond to Conspiracy Theories?” »
What does it mean to be a Christian caregiver? What does it mean to be a caregiver of a person with intellectual disabilities, and to do it in a theologically informed manner? Keith Dow answers this in his book, Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving (Amazon affiliate link). One might assume it … Read More “Formed Together – Review” »
On July 1, 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, the tiny Dominion of Newfoundland suffered one of the greatest tragedies in its history. In less than half an hour, the Newfoundland Regiment was virtually destroyed as a fighting force at the French village of Beaumont-Hamel. The losses were so devastating that … Read More “The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel: Newfoundland’s Tragic Day on the Somme” »
We are only about a year and a half into the new James Gunn and Peter Safran’s led DCU. This has included two television series and two movies: Superman and the recently released Supergirl. We are eagerly waiting to see how this new shared universe works out. How does Supergirl do in evaluating this project? … Read More “Supergirl Movie – Review” »
There was no difficulty in coming up with a Good News post this week. Our youngest, Faith, graduated from high school on Friday. We are incredibly proud of Faith. She overcame a lot of obstacles to achieve this. One of these being our move from Nova Scotia to Ontario in the middle of her last … Read More “Faith is Graduated!” »
In early 1942, where were attacks taking place? Africa and Asia? Yes, but how about just off the east coast of the United States? Operation Drumbeat was the German U-boat offensive against American shipping within sight of its shores. Perhaps the most effective German operation that you have never heard about. Support me at https://www.patreon.com/hopesreason … Read More “SWWP 54 – Operation Drumbeat: The U-Boats Come to America” »
The Second World War witnessed the widespread adoption of the submachine gun as a standard infantry weapon. Firing pistol ammunition in fully automatic mode, submachine guns provided a high volume of fire at close range and proved especially valuable in urban combat, jungle warfare, trench fighting, and assaults on fortified positions. At the beginning of … Read More “The Allied Submachine Guns of the Second World War: From Tommy Guns to Stens” »
Autism is a wide spectrum (yes, I’m aware that some people do not like the spectrum image). The experience of autism can be radically different from person to person. Some autistic people have an “obvious” disability, perhaps because of a developmental disability or specific behaviours that outwardly seem atypical. But then there are other autistic … Read More “Why Might an Autistic Person Hide “In the Closet”?” »
It has been about eight months since I have been a pastor of a church. While I don’t intend to be a pastor again after I retire as a chaplain, I will admit that I enjoy preaching. This is ironic because as a child I was painfully shy and even during my undergraduate studies, public … Read More “I Still Have Opportunities to Preach” »
Matthew 10:24-39 Introduction There are certain biblical phrases that have entered common speech. You have heard the phrase “reap the whirlwind” meaning you will face the consequences for your actions. That comes from Hosea 8:7. There is “by the skin of your teeth” which comes from Job 19:20. There is “the writing is on the … Read More “Taking Up the Cross” »
One of the first Marvel series I ever collected was West Coast Avengers (Amazon affiliate link), which included Simon Williams, Wonder Man. Wonder Man has been around for a while and was really the powerhouse of the team. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) expands, they are always looking for the next character to feature. … Read More “Wonder Man: Season One – Review” »
Among all the races of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium, none are more fascinating or complex than the Elves. Unlike the simplified portrayals often found in fantasy literature, Tolkien’s Elves are divided into numerous branches, clans, and cultures, each with its own history, language, traditions, and relationship to the other Elven peoples. The divisions among the Elves … Read More “The Elves of Middle-earth: Understanding Tolkien’s Many Elven Peoples” »
The United States Marine Corps is one of the world’s most recognizable military organizations, known for its amphibious warfare capabilities, expeditionary mindset, and fierce esprit de corps. By the end of the Second World War, the Marines had become an elite force renowned for some of the most difficult campaigns in military history. Yet the … Read More “From Shipboard Guards to Pacific Shock Troops: The Origins and Evolution of the United States Marine Corps” »
It has been about eight months since we moved from Brookfield, Nova Scotia. Those four years were an important time for our family and there are many people that we miss. That is why it was very nice to have a couple of friends from Brookfield spend the weekend with us as they were taking … Read More “A Visit From Friends” »
One of the pressing issues for the church today, although not everyone agrees with this, is sexual abuse in the church. I remember when evangelicals used to point to Roman Catholics and abuse by priests as evidence of their theological error. Now, sexual abuse within evangelical churches is as rampant as everywhere else. How do … Read More “Apologetics and Responding to Sexual Abuse in the Church” »
I have generally enjoyed the street-level Marvel series that began as the Netflix shows and were eventually brought into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Daredevil is the best of the bunch but I have appreciated the others, including the Punisher. If you are not familiar with the Punisher, he is sort of like Batman but … Read More “Punisher: One Last Kill – Review” »
When people think of tanks in the Second World War, iconic German vehicles such as the Tiger and Panther often come to mind. Yet it was the tanks of the Allied nations that ultimately rolled from the beaches of Normandy to the heart of Berlin and from the deserts of North Africa to the islands … Read More “Steel Victory: The Tanks of the Allied Powers During the Second World War” »
When I joined as a chaplain, there were three groups that needed to agree on me. There was the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Chaplain Services, and my Baptist faith tradition. This last one is important as I can only be a chaplain with their endorsement. But this is not just an administrative issue. … Read More “Hanging With Baptist Chaplains” »
On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 Allied soldiers crossed the English Channel and assaulted the beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history. Among the infantrymen, paratroopers, sailors, and tank crews were military chaplains—unarmed clergy who accompanied combat units into one of the most dangerous operations of the Second World War. These … Read More “Chaplains Under Fire: American, British, and Canadian Padres on D-Day” »
Sony has not had great luck with their Spiderverse movies. Part of this because they do not include Spider-Man. The Venom movies have done okay but most of the rest have bombed. But then there is Spider-Noir… (Amazon affiliate link) This is not a movie but an eight episode television series. The star is not … Read More “Spider-Noir: Season One – Review” »
The question about the role of women and what the Bible allows them to do in terms of leadership and teaching is an ongoing one. The two sides of the question remain equally entrenched. Ironically, both sides would say that the Bible is clear, meaning the Bible supports their position. The problem is that the … Read More “The Biblical Conflict Regarding Women and Authority” »
I always hesitate to write posts that start with “Should.” It suggests a binary of either being required to always do it or never do it. I am firm believer in following your conscience and so I will not tell others what to do. I could say “Can pastors/chaplains…” or even “Would I…” but this … Read More “Should Pastors/Chaplains Be Present at Medically Assisted Deaths?” »
My job is instructing chaplain candidates at Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre. I teach a variety of courses and they are all important. However, I just finished teaching phase four of the chaplain basic qualification course. This is the last part to get them to the operational function point, the place where they are … Read More “Seeing Chaplains Graduate” »
Almost four and a half years ago, our family left Ontario and moved to Nova Scotia. Many times during our time in Nova Scotia, I stated that I had no desire to move back to Ontario. Now we are back in Ontario. Was our move to Nova Scotia a mistake? I do not want to … Read More “Was Our Move to Nova Scotia a Mistake?” »
World War II marked a turning point in military firearms technology. The United States entered the war with a mixture of older bolt-action rifles, newer semi-automatic weapons, and specialized firearms designed for paratroopers, snipers, and support troops. By the end of the conflict, the U.S. military had helped revolutionize infantry combat through widespread use of … Read More “Rifles of the U.S. Military During World War II” »
It was twenty-five years ago today that I was ordained at Queensway Baptist Church in Brantford, ON. In case you are not sure what ordination is, it is when a denomination examines a candidate for ministry, approves them, and gives them the title Reverend. It’s more than that, but that is the basics. It was … Read More “25 Years of Ordination” »
When people think of the fiction of C.S. Lewis, they generally think of the Chronicles of Narnia. They are great stories but I also highly recommend the Ransom trilogy, also known as the Space trilogy. These are Amazon affiliate links. These books are much less well known, but in my opinion are more interesting stories. … Read More “Revisiting the Ransom Trilogy” »
I found out today that Lamar Hardwick, also known as the Autism Pastor, has died. He has been very public with his struggle with cancer and has demonstrated bravery right until the end. I did not know Lamar well and I never met him in person. We communicated a few times and I interviewed him … Read More “Farewell to the Autism Pastor” »
One of my favourite post-apocalyptic movie series are those in the 28 Days/Weeks/Years Later movies. In some ways, these are a realistic zombie movies that instead of having a virus that animates the dead, they feature a rage virus that is somewhat similar to rabies. The infected can actually die by starvation. The other difference … Read More “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” »
The fact that some of our children have had birthdays in recent months is not all that remarkable. However, for our family this is a time of great change. We have five children. Four of the five have birthdays during a five week period. We dread when people ask how old our kids are because … Read More “The Kids Are One Year Older” »
John 17:1-11 Introduction In the beginning… was the militia, and then the navy, and then the air force. Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Three separate organizations, although cooperating together for the defence of Canada. In1968, all three were merged into the Canadian Armed Forces. As we go through modernization … Read More “Answering Jesus’ Prayer” »
This is the talk that I gave at the recent Banquet of Belonging conference put on by A Deeper Communion. I was great to catch up with come of my colleagues in the disability theology and ministry world. Imagine you are visiting a certain landmark near your home. You happen to notice a group of … Read More “Preparing For the Banquet” »
In the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, few objects are as mysterious and influential as the palantíri, the ancient “seeing stones” that appear in The Lord of the Rings. These powerful artifacts allowed communication and vision across vast distances and played a major role in the political and military struggles of Middle-earth during the Third Age. Although … Read More “The Palantíri of Middle-Earth: Tolkien’s Seeing Stones” »
If you look back on my Good News posts, you will see a number of posts where I talk about our cottage. It was our little slice of heaven. I would usually feel a load off my mind the moment that I pulled into community where the cottage was located. We bought a cottage because … Read More “The Selling of the Cottage” »
The relationship between National Socialist German Workers’ Party and socialism is one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in modern history. The short answer is that the Nazis borrowed some language, themes, and political tactics associated with socialism, but they fundamentally rejected the core principles of Marxist and democratic socialist movements. Their use of the term … Read More “How Socialist Were the National Socialists?” »
Among all the memorable figures in The Lord of the Rings, none has inspired more debate than Tom Bombadil. He appears briefly early in the story, sings constantly, wears bright blue and yellow clothing, rescues the hobbits twice, seems entirely unaffected by the One Ring, and then disappears from the narrative almost as suddenly as he arrived. … Read More “The Origins of Tom Bombadil: Tolkien’s Most Mysterious Character” »
Are you sick of zombie movies yet? There are plenty of bad ones out there but there are still a few that are finding something fresh in this well worn genre. We Bury the Dead is one of them. We Bury the Dead is different in that it is not exactly a zombie apocalypse. It … Read More “We Bury the Dead – Review” »
The entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 set all sorts of other events in motion. One of these was the invasion of Burma as Japan eyes the valuable Burma Road. Support me at http://www.patreon.com/hopesreason My recommended book is Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945. Purchase it at this … Read More “SWWP 53 – Japan Invades Burma” »
We have not attended a wedding in a number of years. So it was great to get an invitation to a wedding for a colleague of mine. The wedding took place at a Coptic Orthodox Church and was very different from anything else I have experienced. Aside from celebrating with a friend, it was a … Read More “Wedding Celebrations” »
I am thankful to be able to be a part of the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity. We recently released our annual issue and the theme is: Stigma about Autism and Discrimination against Autistics. This is a vital topic for us to understand when it comes to supporting autistic people. All … Read More “Stigma about Autism and Discrimination against Autistics” »
Few firearms have achieved the cultural and historical recognition of the Thompson submachine gun. Known as the “Tommy Gun,” it became a symbol of both wartime innovation and Prohibition-era crime. But its story begins not in back alleys—but in the trenches of World War I. Origins: A Weapon for Trench Warfare The Thompson was the brainchild … Read More “The Thompson Submachine Gun: From Trench Concept to Iconic Firepower” »
Among the many mysteries in the legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, few are as intriguing as the enigmatic Blue Wizards. Unlike their better-known counterparts, these figures remain shadowy, their fate uncertain and their purpose only partially revealed. Yet, by piecing together Tolkien’s writings, we can form a fascinating picture of who they were—and what role they may … Read More “What We Know About the Blue Wizards of Middle-Earth” »
I try on (most) Mondays to share some Good News post, an item for which I am thankful. This is part of my own mental health activity. Sometimes it is a big thing, sometimes it is a small thing. This week, it is a general feeling of being hopeful. I almost titled this “Feeling Optimistic” … Read More “Feeling Hopeful” »
Among the many armored vehicles of the Second World War, the M3 Stuart stands out as one of the most widely used and recognizable light tanks of the era. Known for its speed, reliability, and versatility, the Stuart played a crucial role in the early years of the war—even as it quickly became outmatched on the battlefield. … Read More “The M3 Stuart: America’s Fast and Reliable Light Tank of World War II” »
One of the biggest challenges for people seeking to interact with autistic people is when they are minimally verbal. On the other side, this is equally challenging for minimally verbal autistic folk. Two of my children are minimally verbal, and even having known them all their lives and being able to interpret much, it is … Read More “The Spiritual Experiences and Expressions of Non-or Minimally Speaking Autistic People” »
Few villains in the DC Comics universe are as strange—or as symbolically rich—as Clayface. Unlike most rogues, Clayface isn’t just one character, but a legacy name shared by multiple individuals across decades of storytelling. From a disfigured actor to shape-shifting monsters, Clayface has evolved into one of Batman’s most unique and tragic enemies. Origins: The Golden Age Debut … Read More “Clayface: The Many Faces of One of DC’s Most Tragic Villains” »
As you probably know, I am an instructor at the Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre. However, I have not instructed since December, Until this past week. For the past few months, I have been taking the courses that I will be eventually teaching. For example, the course I am teaching right now is one … Read More “Back to Teaching” »
I recently saw on social media an uproar about N.T. Wright. There were those who once respected his biblical scholarship who found that they could no longer agree with him. What did he say now? In an interview with Michael Bird on the Ask N.T. Wright Anything podcast, Wright described Adam and Eve as hominids, … Read More “Is N.T. Wright a Heretic Regarding His Views of Adam?” »
I find that there are two tendencies when it comes to autism. Some see autism as the worst possible thing. Some parents live in fear that their child will be diagnosed with autism. The rhetoric of RFK Jr is only increasing this. Autism is seen as a thief that steals the very soul of our … Read More “Is Autism Good or Bad?” »
Moving to Nova Scotia, as great as it was, came with a cost and that was being away from Logan and Abby. We wrestled with that decision as we were making the move. Moving back to Ontario meant that we were closer to Logan and Abby and we were excited about this. But then came … Read More “Seeing Logan and Abby” »
So far Project Hail Mary is doing very well in the theatres and is getting a great response from audiences. But why? Beyond the special effects and the star power of Ryan Gosling, is there something about this movie that is touch hearts? Read my Review of Project Hail Mary. Reckless Hope The concept of … Read More “Why is Project Hail Mary Having Such an Impact?” »
One of the first things to happen in 1942 of the Second World War was the fall of Manilla in the Philippines. Not even the great Douglas MacArthur could prevent that. The fall of Manilla was a devastating blow to the Allies and it was a sign of Japanese dominance in the Pacific… at least … Read More “SWWP 52 – The Fall of Manilla” »
Inspired by a podcast I was listening to, I decided that I wanted to watch the Midway movie. Not the recent version but the 1976 movie (Amazon affiliate link) featuring Henry Fonda, Charlton Heston, and an incredible cast of top actors of the period. The story of Midway is pretty powerful, both because it was … Read More “Nostalgia of an Old War Movie” »
Marvel and DC Comics have always had a different vibe from each other. That difference changed over time but there was a very marked difference at the beginning. By this beginning, I’m referring to the 60s and 70s and even into the 80s. When a new villain was introduced in a Marvel comic, they became … Read More “The Original Difference Between Marvel and DC Comics” »
