Brinton’s Bridges
A Christian and a Fighter
One of the first people that Harley Camden met in Occoquan was Dirk Carter, a member of Riverside Methodist Church and a military veteran who served in Viet Nam. After Harley's first sermon, Dirk invited him to lunch at the American Legion Hall. “I’m a lifelong...
Black Jesus
Riverside Methodist Church in Occoquan had a black Jesus. Pastor Harley Camden noticed it the first time he walked into the small sanctuary and looked up at the stained-glass window at the front of the church. At first, he thought that the glass was simply dirty, but...
Standing Together Against Terror
White supremacists present the greatest terror threat to the United States. According to Politico, they are listed in a draft report from the Department of Homeland Security, above the immediate danger from foreign terrorist groups. We need to be standing together...
No Quick Coronavirus Fix
Mass vaccinations for seasonal flu is a fairly simple operation since resistance comes from a single shot. But the current coronavirus vaccines will require two injections that will be spaced either three or four weeks apart. There is no quick coronavirus fix....
Worthy of Praise
2020 has been a long and tough year. This was a Leap Year, you know, but a unique one: There were 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and five years in April. It sure felt that way. Looking back, not much in this year has been worthy of praise. The pandemic has...
The Challenge of Forgiveness
The election is over and the voters have spoken. But we remain a deeply divided nation, Red State and Blue State, and we are angry at each other for our political choices. Today, we face the challenge of forgiveness. Why forgiveness? That may seem like an odd choice,...
Return of the Islamic State
This August, militants carrying the flag of the Islamic State attacked a port city in northern Mozambique. In just a few days, they overwhelmed government forces and captured the town. These ISIS fighters want their victory to mark the return of the Islamic State....
Taking Faith to Work
Amy Coney Barrett has been chosen by President Donald Trump to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. A committed Roman Catholic, Barrett interprets the Constitution through an approach known as originalism, which is favored by many on the right....
When People Sit Down and Eat Together
Liberals and conservatives. Supporters of Donald Trump and supporters of Joe Biden. Men and women. Native-born Americans and recent immigrants. Gays and straights. There is much that divides us. But good things happen when people sit down and eat together....
Said a Friend: I Like Everything He Has Done as President
"I don't approve of him as a person," said the man sitting next to me. "But I like everything he has done as President." My wife and I were at a wedding reception over the Labor Day weekend, socially distanced around a large round table with one other couple. They...
The Power in a Letter
The performance of the United States Postal Service has been the center of debate on Capitol Hill. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, an appointee of President Trump, testified that there had been a "dip in the level of service." People are upset, because there is power...
Missing the Ballpark
The coronavirus pandemic has kept us away from live sporting events this summer. The Los Angeles Times reports that the highest percentage of the population is mourning the loss of baseball (25%). As a nation, we are really missing the ballpark. Monmouth University...